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l^he Bird of Paradife, 



Numb. IX. 



THE Mmiucodiata^ or Bird of Paradife, for bignefs and fhape of 

 Body, comes near to a Swallow : The Feathers invefting it are of 

 feveral Colours, very beautiful and lovely to behold: The Head 

 like that of a Swallow, and large for the fmallnefs of the Body ; the 

 Bill fomewhat longer than that of the Swallow. No Icfs than ten forts 

 of Birds of Paradife are defcribed by Naturaiifts; which differ in Size, 

 Figure, or Colour, from each other. There has been divers Stories deli- 

 vered by the antient Authors concerning thefe Birds, that in former 

 Ages were generally received and accepted for true, even by Men of 

 Learning, which are now difcovered to be Fables, and rejeded and ex- 

 ploded by all Men: Such as their wanting Feet and Legs; that they lived 

 upon Celeftial Dew ; that they flew perpetually without any Intermiffion, 

 and took no reft but on High in the Air, their Wings being fpread ; that 

 they were never taken alive, but that they always fell down dead upon 

 the Ground, ^c. Thefe moft beautiful Birds (as Aldrova77dus reports) 

 are called by the Inhabitants of the Molucca IJJands, Manucodiatcey 

 that is God's Birds, and are had in great Efteem and Veneration. They 

 are called Birds of Paradife \ both for the excellent Shape and Beauty of 

 their Bodies, alfo becaufe where they are bred, whence they come, and 

 whither they betake themfelves, is altogether unknown, fince they are 

 only found dead upon the Earth ; fo that the Vulgar imagine them to 

 drop out of Heaven, or Paradife, all which things are now fufficiently 

 known to be falfe and fabulous both by Eye Witneffes, and by the Birds 

 themfelves brought over entire. As for that Particular of their wanting 

 Legs, thefe Birds are well known to have their Legs ftrong and armed 

 with crooked Talons, as being the Members of Birds of Prey. They are 

 faid to fet upon fmall Birds and kill and eat thefti. This Bird I had out 

 of the Colledion of Sir 'Thomas Lowther. 



The 



