358 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



the larvae of insects which lodge in the skin of 

 oxen. 



In the twenty-fourth case are the rollers, which 

 resemble the jays in form, but whose colours are 

 more brilliant. We have seven species of them. 

 The gracula religiosa, or Indian grakle of Java, is 

 on the second shelf ; it is said to imitate the human 

 voice better than any other bird. Next to it are 

 the jays. The third and fourth shelves are occu- 

 pied by a magnificent series of birds of paradise 

 (paradisea), of which there are nine species. 

 These birds live in New Guinea, and in the neigh- 

 bouring islands. As their feathers are employed 

 in making plumes, aigrettes, and different other 

 ornaments of dress, the natives sell them very 

 dear, and it is even difficult to procure perfect 

 individuals. Thus it was for a long time believed, 

 that they had no feet nor wings, and always 

 lived in the air, supported by the very long 

 feathers which are placed under their wings. 

 The velvet black, the emerald green, the sapphire 

 blue, and the most vivid red, all adorn the plu- 

 mage of these birds (i). The lower shelves of 

 this case are furnished with the different spe- 

 cies of pies and crows. We shall only mention 



(i) M. Regnault de la Susse, who has seen these birds alive at the 

 governor of the Philippine islands, tells us they have no voice, are des- 

 titute of intelligence, and feed on berries. 



