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Birds. LV. Vol. IV. No. 36., REMARKABLE BIRDS., Fig. 1. The magnificent Maenura. (Maenura superba.), New-Holland this remarkable large Island of the South-Sea which in its extent almost equals Europe, is in regard to natural history a true land of wonders, as the duck billed Platypus (see No. 80. of the III. Vol. of this Picture Galleiy) and various other strange animals and birds, lately found in it, sufficiently prove. Some time ago the elegant wonderful bird hère represented, was discovered by someEnglishmen on a journey into the inner parts of the Island. It is the magnifie ent Macnurawhich apparently belongs to the tribe of thebirds of Paradise. lt is about the size of a common hen; the principal colour of its body is blackish changing into red-brown on the wings; the thighs are covered with long blackish feathers; and the head is ornamented with a loofe creft of hair-like feathers \ but what deferves the most admiration in tins elegant bird, is its tail, from the. middle of which two large feathers proceed bending towards one another and beautifulîy pencilled with orange-coloured arches of the ut» most élégance. Between these two large feathers two leffer ones arife which bending outwards are of a blueish grey colour; and numbers of tender hairlike feathers which resemble the fibres of leave», accomplish thi» wonderful ßructure. The nourishment and manner of living of this extraordinary bird is as yet entirely unknown., Fig. 2. The Taylor-bird. (Motacilla sartoria.), In the East-Indies the little birds and their young-ones are continually exposed to different dangers. Monkeys and serpents climb up the trees, and creep and wind themselves through the branches in order to overtake the mothers with their harmless broods. Wise nature therefore protects the little defenceless birds by various ingenious instincts; and they build generally their nest on the end of bending branches where the animals of prey can not follow them. But still artfuller is the little nest which the here represented Taylor-bird (A) also an inhabitant of the East-Indies, builds. It choses for the purpose a fallen leaf which it sows by the help of its bill with the tender fibres of plants round the green leaf on a tree (B) so, that the whole form is an open bay. In this, when properly lined or filled up with cotton and feathers, the female lays its four little white eggs; and thus defended against ail dangers, it quietly hatches its young.
