120 
BEArTirUL BIEDS. 
hues and delicate structure of their ornamental trap- 
pings and thread-like feathers, fostered the idea that 
tliey were inhabitants of some ever calm and sunny 
region, where no storms occurred to ruffle their plumes, 
and where thev floated about on never-tirins: winor, in 
a balmy perfumed atmosphere and a cloudless sky. 
They were called Birds of Paradise, Grod’s Birds, Pas- 
saros de Sol. 
Although the peculiar habits and economy of the 
Birds of Paradise have not yet been examined or 
made familiar to the naturalist, they are supposed to 
feed chiefly upon soft substances, such as the pulpy 
or farinaceous parts of fruits, upon worms and in- 
sects. They are natives of New Guinea, the Papuan 
Islands, or islands of the Indian Ocean, whose in- 
liabitants are exceedingly remote from civilization. 
Tlie skins which are brought to this country are ob- 
tained chiefly from the Chinese traders, in a dry and 
mutilated state. 
New Guinea appears to be the head-quarters of 
these birds, from whence they migrate seasonally to 
the smaller isles which lie in its vicinity. Tliey resort 
to the forests, not, like the parrots, to clamber amidst 
the twigs and leaves in search of their food, for their 
flowing trains and ornamental plumes would ill accord 
with such a habit, but to perch on the summits of the 
loftiest trees, or to seek shade and shelter beneath 
their ample foliage. They live in troops, some of 
them at least have been observed to do so, and seek 
their food only at the rising and setting of the sun. 
The islands on which these birds have hitherto been 
found are subject to alternations of rain and ch’ought, 
