Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1879 — Birds of Paradise. [ARTICLE]

Birds of Paradise.

The birds of paradise unite all the modes of ornamentation in the highest degree, with the most harmonious results. They join the graceful plumes of the ostrich to the dainty coloring of the sun bird. Crests almost as largely developed as that of the umbrella bird overshadow their beautiful heads; frills as full as those of the humming birds fall down in metallic splendor before tbeir gorgeous necks And if any proofs be wanting of the connection between the nature of the food and the beautiful plumage, it may be found in the fact that these royally-attired creatures are first cousins of our own dingy crows and jackdaws; but, while the crow seeks his livelihood among the insects and carrion of an English plowed field, the bird of paradise regales his lordly pal ate on the crimson and purple fruits, which gleam out amid the embowering foliage of the Malayan forests. —The Eclectic. “I’m a ruta-baga, and here’s where I plant myself,” said a tramp, as he entered a farm-house near Freeport, 111., and seated himself at the table. “We allers bile ours,” said the farmer’s wife, and soused him with a dishpanful of boiling water.