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THE DIAMOND-BIRDS. 
ments. Sometimes he half unfolded his wings, jerked his head to 
right and left, scratched the stone with his claws, and performed a series 
of leaps and bounds, like an athlete ; sometimes he expanded his tail, 
and with dignified step paced around the platform until, fatigued, he 
uttered a cry quite different from his ordinary voice, and flew away to 
a neigfhbourinof branch. Another male then came forward, and dis- 
played all his agility and gracefulness, after a while giving way to a 
third performer. The hen-birds apparently never wearied of watching 
the tours d'adresse of their mates, and as each executant retired 
rewarded him with approving voices. No doubt they fully under- 
stand that all is done in their honour and to win their approval, as the 
knights of old tilted with each other in the tourney, and liigh triumphs 
held, 
" With store of ladies, whose bright eyes 
Rained influence, and judged the prize 
Of wit or arms." 
THE DIAMOND-BIRD. 
From Brazil to Australia is a " far cry," but it is 
in the southern regions of the vast " island-continent," 
as well as in Tasmania, that the naturalist meets with 
one of the Chatterers (Pardolotus), which the colonists 
call the diamond-bird. He has a short, thick, obtuse 
bill, with the upper mandible strongly curved ; 
and long, sharp, sword -shaped wings. His 
plumage shines, like Joseph's coat, with many 
colours ; but these are blended with all that 
harmony and softness of which Nature 
alone possesses the secret. The wings, 
the tail, the crown of the head, are 
black, each feather being marked to- 
DIAMOND BIKOS. 
