(_Three-fourths Life size_)]
[Illustration: THE RESPLENDENT EPIMACHUS (_Seleucides resplendens_).]
We are indebted to Dr. Bennett for the following graphic account of a
Bird of Paradise, which lived for nine years in the aviary of Mr. Beale
of Macao:--"This elegant creature has a light, playful, and graceful
manner, with an arch and impudent look; dances about when a visitor
approaches the cage, and seems delighted at being made an object of
admiration; its notes are very peculiar, resembling the cawing of the
Raven, but its tones are by far more varied. During four months of the
year, from May to August, it moults. It washes itself regularly twice
daily, and after having performed its ablutions throws its delicate
feathers up nearly over the head, the quills of these feathers having a
peculiar structure, so as to enable the bird to effect this object. Its
food is boiled rice mixed up with soft egg, together with plantains,
and living insects of the grasshopper tribe; these insects, when thrown
to him, the bird contrives to catch in its beak with great celerity;
it will eat insects in a living state, but will not touch them when
dead. I observed the bird, previously to eating a grasshopper, place
the insect upon the perch, keep it firmly fixed with the claws, and
divesting it of the legs, wings, &c., devour it, with the head
always placed first. It rarely alights upon the ground, and so proud
is the creature of its elegant dress that it never permits a soil to
remain upon it, and it may frequently be seen spreading out its wings
and feathers, and regarding its splendid self in every direction, to
observe whether the whole plumage is in an unsullied condition. The
sounds uttered by this bird are very peculiar; that which appears to be
a note of congratulation resembles somewhat the cawing of a Raven, but
changes to a varied scale in musical gradations--a _he_, _hi_, _ho_,
_how_, repeated frequently and rapidly, as briskly and playfully he hops
round and along his perch, descending to the second perch to be admired,
and congratulate the stranger who has made a visit to inspect him. He
frequently raises his voice, sending forth notes of such power as to be
heard at a long distance, and as it would scarcely be supposed such a
delicate bird could utter. These notes are _whack_, _whack_, _whack_,
uttered in a barking tone, the last being in a low note as conclusion. A
drawing of the bird of the natural size was made by a Chinese artist.
This was taken one morning to the original, who paid a compliment to
the artist by considering it one of his own species. The bird advanced
towards the picture, uttering at the same time its cawing, congratulatory
notes; it did not appear excited by rage, but pecked gently at the
representation, jumping about the perch, knocking its mandibles together
with a chattering noise, and cleaning them against the perch, as if
welcoming the arrival of a companion. After the trial with the picture
a looking-glass was brought, to see what effect it would produce upon
the bird, and the result was nearly the same; he regarded the reflection
of himself most steadfastly in the mirror, never quitting it during the
time it remained before him. When the glass was removed to the lower
from the upper perch he instantly followed, but would not descend upon
the floor of the cage when it was placed so low. It seemed impatient,
hopping about without withdrawing its gaze from the mirror, uttering the
usual cawing notes, but with evident surprise that the reflected figure
(or, as he seemed to regard it, his opponent) imitated so closely all
his actions, and was as watchful as himself. There was, however, on his
part no indication of combativeness by any elevation of his feathers, nor
was any irritation displayed at not being able to approach nearer to the
supposed new comer from his own native land. His attention was directed
to the mirror during the time it remained before him, but when removed
he went quietly and composed himself upon the upper perch as if nothing
had excited him. One of the best opportunities of seeing this bird in
all its beauty of action as well as display of plumage is early in the
morning, when he makes his toilet; the beautiful sub-alar plumage is then
thrown out and cleaned from any spot that may sully its purity by being
gently passed through the bill; the short, chocolate-coloured wings are
extended to the utmost, and he keeps them in a steady flapping motion,
as if in imitation of their use in flight, at the same time raising up
the delicate long feathers over the back, which are spread in a chaste
and elegant manner, floating like films in the ambient air. When it has
picked and thoroughly cleaned its feathers, elevating its tail and long
shaft feathers, it raises the delicate plumage of a similar character to
the sub-alar, forming a beautiful crest, and throwing up its feathers
with much grace, appears as proud as a lady in her full ball dress. His
prehensile power in the feet is very strong, and, still retaining his
hold, the bird will turn himself round on his perch. He delights to be
sheltered from the glare of the sun, as that luminary is a great source
of annoyance to him if permitted to dart its fervid rays directly upon
the cage. This bird is not at all ravenous, but eats rice leisurely,
almost grain by grain."