484 



GREAT PARADISE-BIRD. 



ridicule which he had to encounter on the subject 

 made him cautious of affording in future an open- 

 ing for similar observations. 



The general history of the manners of these 

 birds has long ago been given by Valentyn and 

 others. Their true residence or breeding-place 

 seems to be Papua or New-Guinea, from whence 

 they make occasional excursions to the small 

 neighbouring islands: they fly in flocks of about 

 thirty or forty, led, as it is said, by a single bird, 

 which the natives call their king, but which is said 

 to be of a distinct species, and is described as of a 

 black colour with red spots. It is pretended that 

 when this bird settles, the whole flight of Paradise- 

 Birds settle also, in consequence of which they 

 sometimes perish ; since if their leader happens to 

 settle on the ground, they are not^able to rise, on 

 account of the peculiar structure of their feathers; 

 nor can they fly with the wind, which would totally 

 disorder their long flowing plumes: thej- are there- 

 fore observed always to fly against the wind, and 

 to abstain altogether from flight during a storm, 

 wjiich would infallibly throw them to the ground. 

 While flying, they are noisy, like Starlings; but 

 their common cry is said rather to resemble the 

 croaking of Ravens., and is particularly audible 

 when, m somewhat windy weather, the incum- 

 brance of their long feathers brings them, into im- 

 minent danger of falling. In the Aru islands they 

 are observed to perch on the highest trees. They 

 are taken by the inhabitants with bird-lime, snares, 

 or blimt arrows; and though a great many ai-e 



