BIRDS OF PARADISE 
erected the beautiful plumes, spreading them in the 
lightest and most graceful form, causing every feather 
to vibrate, like a flame of fire, that almost dazzled the 
sight. While this excitement lasted the bird would 
sometimes turn almost under the branch, or perch, by 
bending the head or neck very low and downwards. At 
this period the two birds would not agree ; they attacked 
each other, and eventually the aviary had to be divided 
into two compartments. 
The birds hop about on the ground like jays or jack- 
daws ; they do not run like starlings or magpies, which run 
on the ground, but when on the ground the long plumes 
are carried high above the back to prevent the points 
of the feathers from touching the ground. They soon 
became very tame, and would take food from the hand ; 
the sight of a mealworm would bring them down from 
the perch immediately. 
The moulting was extremely rapid, the fine plumes 
were thrown off in a few days, and the new ones appeared 
to grow all at the same time in a bunch ; it is therefore 
certain that these birds after they attain the adult male 
plumage lose it only during the annual moults, like the 
peacock and many other of these richly-ornamented birds. 
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