OF BIRDS. 
187 
BIRD OF PARADISE. 
These birds, which for beauty exceed all 
others of their kind, are natives of the Molucca 
Islands. They live in large flocks, and at 
night generally perch upon the same tree. 
They are called, by some, the Swallows of 
Tern ate, from their rapid flight, and from 
their being continually on the wing in pur- 
suit of insects, their usual prey. The head 
is small, but adorned with colours which can 
vie with the brightest of the peacock’s em- 
bellishments', the neck is of a fawn tint; 
and the body very small, but covered with 
long feathers of a browner hue, tinged with 
gold. But what chiefly excites curiosity are 
two long naked feathers, which spring from 
the upper part of the rump above the tail, 
and which arc for the most part about three 
feet long. 
