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A DESCRIPTION OK 
THE BIRD OF PARADISE. (Paradisea apoda.) 
THERE are many species of Birds of Paradise, which have 
been so called, as it is supposed, on account of their being 
generally seen on the wing, and flying in the torrid zone at a 
small distance from the land. Their appearance is there- 
foremost welcome to the tired sailor and longing passenger, 
by its foretelling the vicinity of terra firma. The head 
is small, but adorned with colours which can vie with the 
brightest hues of the peacock's embellishments j the neck 
is of a fawn tint, and the body very small, but covered 
with long feathers of a browner hue, tinged with gold : 
the two middle feathers of the tail are little more than 
filaments, except at the point and near the base. This 
bird has long been esteemed by ladies as a head-dress, and 
as those sent to Europe for this purpose always had the 
