Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/670

 650 BIED OF PARADISE bird (P. apoda, Linn.), whose body is about as large as a thrush, though the thick plumage makes it appear as large as a pigeon ; it is about 12 inches long, the bill being 1 inch. The head, throat, and neck are covered with very short dense feathers, of a pale golden color on the head and hind part of the neck, the base of the bill being surrounded with black velvety ones, with a greenish gloss; the fore part of the neck is green gold, with the hind part, back, wings, and tail chestnut ; the breast chestnut, inclining to purple. Beneath the wings spring a large number of feathers, with very loose webs, some 18 inches long, resem- bling the downy tufts of feather grass ; these are of different colors, some chestnut and pur- plish, others yellowish, and a few nearly white. From the rump spring two middle tail feath- ers, without webs except for the first few inches and at the tip, and nearly three feet Red Bird of Par- adise (Paradi- sea rubra). in length; the remaining tail feathers are about 6 inches long, and even at the end. call this bird manuk-dewata, or "bird of the gods," from which perhaps the common name is derived. The Malay tra- ders, who first brought them from Papua, cut off the legs of these birds, and pretend- ed that they lived in the air, buoyed up by their light plumage, never descending to the ground, and resting at night suspended from the trees by the long tail feathers ; hence their specific name. Other fables, such as that they fed on the morning dew, hatched their eggs out between the shoul- ders, and came from the "terrestrial paradise," were added in order to increase the value of these beautiful birds in the Indian markets. From the nature of their plumage they cannot fly except against the wind; when the feathers get disordered by a contrary breeze they fall to the ground, from which they cannot read- ily rise ; in this way many are caught ; others are taken by bird lime, or shot by blunt ar- rows, or so stupefied by cocculus Indicus as to be caught by the hand. When at rest they seem to be very proud of their beauty, care- fully picking from their feathers every particle King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius). of dust. They are shy and difficult of approach. Batavia and Singapore are the chief ports whence these birds are exported to Europe; the Bughis of Celebes bring great numbers of them thither in their boats from Papua and the Arroo group. The whole bird is a highly cov- eted ornament for the heads of the East Indian grandees, as well as for the bonnets of the civil- ized fair sex. The P. Papuana (Bechst.) is a smaller bird, of the same general appearance, with the throat and neck before green ; top of Superb Bird of Paradise (Lophorina atra). the head, nape, and neck ferruginous yellow ; back yellow with a grayish tinge ; breast, belly, and wings chestnut. This and the preceding species are said to fly in flocks, led by a king who flies higher than the rest. The P. rubra