THE "PACIFIC OCEAN. 
207 
work, into which are wrought feathers, in the fame man¬ 
ner as upon the cloaks, though rather clofer, and lefs diver- 
ftfied; the greater part being red, with fome black, yellow, 
or green ftripes, on the ftdes, following the curve direction 
of the creft. Thefe, probably, complete the drefs, with 
the cloaks; for the natives, fometimes, appeared in both 
together. 
We were at a lofs to guefs from whence they could get 
fuch a quantity of thefe beautiful feathers ; but were foon 
informed, as to one fort; for they afterward brought great 
numbers of fkins of fmall red birds for fale, which were of¬ 
ten tied up in bunches of twenty or more, or had a fmall 
wooden fkewer run through their noftrils. At the firft, 
thofe that were bought, confifted only of the fkin from be¬ 
hind the wings forward; but we, afterward, got many with 
the hind part, including the tail and feet. The firft, how¬ 
ever, ftruck us, at once, with the origin of the fable formerly 
adopted, of the birds of paradife wanting legs; and fufti- 
ciently explained that circumftance. Probably the people 
of the illands Eaft of the Moluccas, from whence the fkins 
of the birds of paradife are brought, cut off their feet, for 
the very reafon afligned by the people of Atooi, for the like 
practice; which was, that they hereby can preferve them 
with greater eafe, without loftng any part which they 
reckon valuable. The red-bird of our ifland, was judged by 
Mr. Anderfon to be a fpecies of merops , about the fize of a 
fparrow; of a beautiful fcarlet colour, with a black tail and 
wings; and an arched bill, twice the length of the head, 
which, with the feet, was alfo of a reddifh colour. The 
contents of the heads were taken out, as in the birds of pa¬ 
radife ; but it did not appear, that they ufed any other 
method to preferve them, than by ftmple drying ; for the 
3 fkins, 
1778. 
January. 
