flight, as v/ell as from their being continually on 
the \^ingin purfuic of infers, their ufiial prey, they 
are fometimes called the fwallows of Ternate. 
However, as the country where they breed is vi- 
fited with tempeftuous feafons, during which rains 
and thunders continually difturb the atmolphere, 
thefe Birds are feldom feen at fuch tinnes ; and it is 
fuppofed that they then migrate to countries where 
their food is to be found in greater abundance; for, 
like fv/allows, they have their itatcd periods of return. 
In the beginning of the month of Auguft, they 
-are feen flying together in great numbers ; and, as 
the inhabitants of the Molucca Ifles are inclined to 
believe, following their king, who is diftinguifhed 
from his fubjefts by the beauty of h is plumage, and 
that refpe(5l and veneration which they are fuppofed to 
render him. In the everting they perch on the high- 
efts trees of the foreft; and particularly one which 
bears a red berry, on which they fometimes feed 
when they find a deficiency of more defirable fup- 
port. The natives, many of whom make a trade 
of killing and felling them to Europeans, gene- 
rally conceal themfelves in thofe trees to which 
the birds are known to refort ; and, having furnifli- 
ed themfelves v/ith arrows, exert their utmoft en- 
deavours to Ihoot the king: this being effeded, 
the gi eatcf!; part of the flock becom.e an eafy prey. 
When they have taken a number of thefe birds, 
the ufual method is to gut them, and cut off their 
legs; they then thruft liot irons into their bodies, 
the heat of Vv'hich dries up all internal mtoifcure; 
and, filling the cavities v/ith fait and fpices, carry 
them, to the ufual reforts of Europeans. 
Bird of Paradise, Common. This Bird is, 
in appearance, as large as a pigeon ; but it's body, 
in reality, is by no means bigger than that of the 
common thrufn. It's head, throat, and neck, are 
of a pale gold colour; the bafe of the bill, the fides 
of the head, and the throat, are covered v/ith black 
feathers as foft as velvet, and changeable like thofe 
on the neck of a mallard ; die hinder part of the 
head is of a fnining green mixed v;ith gold; the 
body and wings are chiefly covered with beautifjl 
brown, purple, and gold feathers; the fuperior 
parts of the tail-feathers are of a pale yellow, thpfe 
under them being whiter and longer, fo that the 
extremity of the tail appears to be wholly white ; 
and from the upper-part of the rum.p proceed tvv^o 
fiender filaments, longer than the whole body of 
the bird, and bearded only at the ends. 
Bird of Paradise, of Marcgrave. This 
bird, which is of the fize of the fwallow, has a fmall 
head and eyes, a fliarp bill, thick feet, and crook- 
ed claws. The feathers about the bill are filky, be- 
ing a mixture of green and brown above, and 
black belov/; the fjperior part of the neck is of a 
gold colour, and the inferior is a mixture of green 
and gold ; the breafcis of a deep brown; and the reil 
of the body, wings, and tail, are of a beautiful 
brovvnifh colour, the long feathers near the fides 
being of a gold colour near their rife, but in their 
other pr.rts of a v>/hidfh yellow, and the two projed- 
ing quills of a gold colour at their rife, but becom- 
ing of a darkifli brown tovv^ards their extremities, 
and confiderably bent. 
■ Bird OF Paradise, Greater. This fpecies is 
about the fize of a blackbird. The wings,when clof- 
cd, meafurefeven inches; the long fhafts fpringing 
from the rump, twenty-feven inches; and the 
longefc of the foft loofe feathers, rifino- from un- 
der the wings, twenty-one inches. The bill is about 
an inch and three-quarters long ; and, from it's tip, 
B I R 
to the extremities of the common or fliorter feathers 
of the tail, about twelve inches. The bill has a 
flight convexity towards the point, and is of a dirty 
yellowifli green colour; the fore-part of the head 
is covered with black feathers of a velvet glofs, 
vv'hich entirely funound the bill; the throat is co- 
vered with green feathers of the fame velvet fabric, 
fliining with a golden glofs ; and fi^ne yellow fea-- 
thers extend from the upper part of tiie head to the 
fides of the neck, and almofl: encircle the green ones 
on the throat. The breafl: is covered with plumage 
of the common flirudure, and of a fine dark purp- 
lifli colour: die reft of the body, the back, the 
belly, the wings, and the tail, are of a bright reddifh 
chefnut colour ; but the infide of the wings, and 
the under-fide of the tail, are much darker than the 
upper. Two black filaments, like horfe-hairs, but 
ftiffer and ftronger, fpring from the rump ; having 
narrow webs on both fides, for about four iiiches 
of their length. 
This Bird is chiefly remarkable for the plats of 
feathers under the wings on each fide, v/hich ex-^ 
tend themfelves a great way beyond the common 
feathers of the tail. Thele feathers are of a 
very fine ftrudurc, and exceedingly light; and 
the v\'ebs are fo very open, that they may be fe^en 
through like gauze. The longer feathers are of a 
light reddifli brown; and the fliorter, which fall 
over them, are of a very bright yellov/, with a red- 
difh tinge at their tips. They fall either above or 
under the tail, but are fo very loofe, that they dif- 
clofe the tail either way. llie legs and feet, which 
are fiiaped like thofe of the pye kind, are armed 
with clav/s of a moderate fcrength, and of a dark 
brov/n colour* 
Bird OF Paradise, King, of Edwards. This 
very elegant bird is about the fize of the chaffinch. 
The bill is pretty fl;raight,fomewhatflender, and of a 
yellovv colour towards the angles of the mouth. The 
upper m.andible of the bill is covered halfway with 
velvet feathers of an orange colour; the head is 
covered v/ith velvet or plufli-like feathers, which 
feem to be charaderiftic of the genus; the neck, 
the back, the upper fides of the wings, and the tail, 
have feathers of the commion ftrudure, of a full red 
colour a little inclining to chefnut, and of a moft 
beautiful glofs ; the under part of the neck has a 
mixture of black, blended with red; the infides of 
the greater feathers of the wings are of a reddifh 
yellov/; the inner covert-feathers of the wings are 
v/hite; and che under fide of the tail is duflcy. Un- 
der each v/ing there is a rem^arkable tuft, coiti- 
pofed of feven or eight feathers of a dark blackifli 
brov;n colour, with very fine glolTy green tips; 
and each feather has a tranlverfe bar or line of 
a whitifii colour which parts the green part of it 
from the dufl:y. On the brealt there is a crefcenr 
of a fhiningdark green colour, the horns of which 
point upwards ; and this crefcent is divided from 
the neck by a yellowifli light line pafllng tranfverfe- 
ly above-it. The belly, thighs, and coverts under 
the tail, are white ; but towards the knees the co- 
lour becomes a little brownifli. Five fcifi" naked 
ftems of feathers, bout fix inches long, fpring 
from the upper fides of the middle of the tail, 
v/hich towards their extremities are befet wltli 
v/ebs on one fide, and curled round fo as to form 
circular terminations, flat and fliining, of a varia- 
ble colour partaking of red and green. The legs 
of this bird are of a dark brown; and it has four 
ftrong light-coloured toes. 
Bird of Paradise, King, of Clusius, This 
bird 
