BIRDS OF PARADISE 



61 



LABRADOR DUCKS. .\UW EXTINCT 

 From the Group in the American Museum. 



Eggs 



wings, tail, etc., and the different ways of using tliem are illustrated in 

 other cases, particularly by one showing the feeding habits of some bird.'^. 

 In the alcoves to the right the first egg case contains the Synoptic 

 Collection of Eggs which shows the variation in the number 

 in a set, size, shell texture, markings, shape, etc., and tells 

 something of the laws governing these things. The succeeding cases con- 

 tain the general exhibition collection of nests and eggs, principally those 

 of North American and of European birds. 



Near the center of the hall is a nearly complete collection of the Birds 



. , of Paradise, presented by Mrs. Frank K. Sturgis. This 



Paradise family of birds is confined to New Guinea, Australia and 



some neighboring islands. Their feet and bills show their 



close relationship to the Crows and Jays, which they resemble in nesting 



habits as well. Their chief characteristic is of course their gorgeous 



plumes, wonderful as well in variety of form and position as in beauty. 



For these plumes the birds are still being killed in such large numljers 



that unless the demand for them soon ceases all the finer species will be 



exterminated, as the Great Bird of Paradise is already believed to be. 



]\Iore Birds of Paradise have been sold at a single London auction 



(23,000 in two sales) than are contained in all the museums of the world. 



In this hall, too, are a number of groups of local and other birds which 



are placed here only temporarily. In fact, much of the arrangement of 



the hall will be changed as soon as circumstances permit. 



Suspended from the ceiling is the skeleton of a Finback 

 Whale, sixty-two feet in length 



Finback Whale 



