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Beautiful Bird of Paradise

assert they prey on smal birds, a supposition which is favored by their strength of bills and legs, and the vigor with which they act in self-defence.

They are said also to feed on fruits, berries and butterflies.

A recent account of these birds in a state of nature is given by Les son.

The Birds of Paradise, he says, or at least the emerald species, live in troops in the vast forests of the Papuans, a group of isl. ands situated under the equator, and which is composed of the islands Arru, Waigiou, and the great islof perpetual calm, and there pursue their and called New Guinea. They are birds journey. With respect to their food, we of passage, changing their quarters according to the monsoons. The females con- which have a peculiar structure, so as to gregate in troops, assemble upon the tops enable the bird to effect this object. His of the highest trees in the forest, and all food during confinement is boiled rice cry together to call the males. These last mixed with soft egg, together with planare always alone in the midst of some tains and living insects of the grasshopper fifteen females, which compose their se- tribe; these insects, when thrown to him, raglio, after the manner of the gallina- the bird contrives to catch in his beak ceous birds, with great celerity.

This elegant, beautifully-colored crea- I have observed the bird, previously to ture has a light, playful and graceful eating a grasshopper given him in an manner, with an arch and impudent entire and unmutilated state, place the look; dances about when a visitor ap- insect upon the perch, keep it firmly fixed proaches the cage, and seems delighted with the claws, and, divesting it of the at being made an object of admiration; legs and wings, devour it, with the head its notes are very peculiar, resembling always placed first. He rarely alights the cawing of the raven, but its tones are upon the ground, and so proud is the by far more varied. During four months creature of his elegant dress, that he of the year, from May to August, it never permits a soil to remain upon it, moults. It washes itself regularly twice and may frequently be seen spreading daily, and, after having performed its out his wings and feathers, to observe ablutions, throws its delicate feathers up whether the whole of the plumage is in an nearly over the head, the quills of unsullied condition.