GOLDEN BIRD OF PARADISE. 
be absolutely a non-descript ; and I much re- 
gret that it was imperfe6E, in wanting legs. I . 
am also doubtful, whether some of the greater 
quills have not been taken aw^ay — for it had 
only six or seven in a. wing — which, it is very 
likely, were black; for most birds have the 
outer, or pinion quills, of the colour of their 
tails: but I have seen, more than once, in 
voyagers which I cannot recolle61:, an account 
of the Indians drying and preparing these birds^ 
for merchandise among the military men in the 
oriental countries, who use them as plumes 
for their caps ; which may be the reason, why' 
most of these birds are maimed, and deprived , 
of such parts as have no particular beauty in 
them, that they may not cover, or obscure, the 
more beautiful feathers. I have given it just 
as it appeared to me, with only the addition of 
legs. This tribe,'* concludes Edwards, "seems 
to me, to be rather a-kin to Pyes, and Jays, 
than to the Hawk kind, as some authors have 
imagined." 
BufFon says, that hs places this bird between 
jthe Rollers, and the Birds of Paradise, as form- 
ling the shade which conne61:s these two kinds : 
because it seems to have the shape of the former ; 
