Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1898 — Birds of Paradise. [ARTICLE]

Birds of Paradise.

The Birds of Paradise aro unrivalled for the brilliancy of their coloring. It Is difficult, however, to say .which among them has the most brilliant plumage. Perhaps the King Paradise has more right to this distinction than any of his kind. A gloss like that of spun glass wavers over the cinnabar red which forms the prevailing tint of his gorgeous garb. The feathers of the head shade into a rich orange, while beneath, from the breast downwards, all is pure white, with the softness aud sheen of silk, except the belt of deep metallic green that crosses the breast and separates the snow from the red of the throat. A circular spot of the same metallic green glisteus above each eye, while the feet and legs are clothed in a fine cobalt blue. From each side of the breast, but generally lying hidden under the wings, spring little tufts of grayish feathers about two inches long, and terminating in a broad baud of intense emerald green. The bird; at his pleasure, lifts these aigrettes, and when the wings are elevated, expands them like a pair of fans. The two middle tall feathers take the form of slender wires «bout live inches in length, diverging In a graceful double curve. About hulf an inch of the end of this wire is wedded on the outer side only, and curling spirally Inwards, the two extremities form a pair of glittering emerald buttons, hanging five inches below the body, and about five inches apart.