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The B ird o f Paradife:
Numb. IX .
TH E Manucodiata, or Bird of Paradife, for bignefs and fliape of
Body, comes near to a Swallow: The Feathers invefting it are of
feveral Colours, very beautiful and lovely to behold: The Head
like that o f a Swallow, and large for the fmallnefs o f the Body; the
Bill fomewhat longer than that of the Swallow. ■ No lefs than ten forts
of Birds of Paradife are defcribed by Naturalifts; which differ in Size,
Figure, or Colour, from each other. There has been divers Stories delivered
by the antient Authors concerning thefe Birds, that in former
Ages were generally received and accepted for true, even by Men o f
Learning, which are now difcovered to be Fables; and rejeiled and exploded
by all Men: Such as their wanting Feet and Legs; that they lived
upon Celeftial Dew; that they flew perpetually without any Intermiflion,
and took no reft but on High in the Air, their Wings being ipread; that
they were never taken alive, but that they always fell down dead upon
the Ground, & c. Thefe moft beautiful Birds (as Aldrovandus reports)
are called by the Inhabitants o f the Molucca IJlands, Manucodiata,
that is God’s Birds, a n d a r e had in great Efteem and Veneration. They
are called Birds of Paradife; both for the excellent Shape and Beauty of
their Bodies,, alfo becaufe where they are bred, whence they come, and
whither they betake themfelves, is altogether unknown, flnce they are
only found dead upon the Earth; fo that the Vulgar imagine them to
drop out of Heaven, or Paradife, all which things are now fufficiently
known to be falfe and fabulous both by Eye Witnefles, and by the Birds
themfelves brought over entire. As for that Particular of their wanting
Legs; thefe Birds are well known to have their Legs ftrong and armed
with crooked Talons, as being the Members of Birds of Prey. They are
faid to fet upon fmall Birds and kill and eat them. This Bird I had out
of the Colle&ion of Sir Thomas Lowther.