Pla c i .
body rufous, the under yellowifh: both above arid beneath marked;
with tranfverfe dufky ftripes: wings arid tail plain ‘rüfoüs: the
tail about four inches long, cuneiform, the outer feather one irich
and a half Ihorter than the middle ones 5 all óf them havé the lhafts
projefting beyond the end of the feather about one-fixth of art
inch, and fharp-pointed: the legs are one inch arid a quarter in
length, and with the claws are dulky black.
This inhabits the interior parts of Guiana, where it cliriabs thé
trees in the manner of the 'Wood-pecker; which circ'umftance oc-
cafions the inhabitants to blend it with thofe kind of birds,
without diftin&ion. Buff on feems at a lofs where to place this
fpecies, and thinks it holds place between the Woodpecker and
Creeper genus, calling it Pic-Grimpereau. However the manners
alone may incline one to this opinion, the fhape and make of the
whole bird do not favour the fuppofitiori : I have ventured therefore
to rank it with the Grakles, as it appears to haye many
things in common with that tribe.
G e h u $
G e n u s XVI. P A R A D I S E B I R D .
N° 1. Greater P. B.
Var A. Leffer D°.
2. King P. B.
3. Magnificent P. B.
4. Gorget P. B.
N° 5. Superb P; B.
6. Gold-bre.afted P. B,
7. Blue-green P. B.
8. Golden P. B..
BIRDS of this genus have-
The bill, flightly bending : the bafe covered with velvet-
like feathers.
Noftrils fmall, and concealed by the feathers.
Tail confifting of ten feathers; the two middle ones*, in
feveral of the lpecies, are very long, arid webbed only at the bafe
and tips.
Legs and feet very large and flrong: three toes forward, one
backward ; the middle eorinedled to the outer one as. far as the
firft joint.
. The whole o f this genus have, till lately, been very imperfedtly
known; few cabinets poffeffirig more than one fpecies, viz. the
Greater, or what is called the Common Bird of Paradife: nor has
any fet of birds given rife to more fables than this, the various
tales concerning which are to be found in every author; fuch as—
their never touching the ground from their birth to death ; living
wholly on the dew; being produced without le g s a n d an hundred
* Sometimes more : fee Forrtfl, Voj, p, 140, 141.
fuch