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ace we were to stay at； and where he had assured me we could get every kind of bird and beast to be found in Aru。 The shed was occupied by about a dozen men； women； and children； two cooking fires were burning in it； and there seemed little prospect of my obtaining any accommodation。 I however deferred inquiry till I had seen the neighbouring forest； and immediately started off with two men； net； and guns； along a path at the back of the house。 In an hour's walk I saw enough to make me determine to give the place a trial； and on my return； finding the 〃Orang…kaya〃 was in a strong fever…fit and unable to do anything； I entered into negotiations with the owner of the house for the use of a slip at one end of it about five feet wide； for a week； and agreed to pay as rent one 〃parang；〃 or chopping…knife。 I then immediately got my boxes and bedding out of the boat； hung up a shelf for my bird…skins and insects； and got all ready for work next morning。 My own boys slept in the boat to guard the remainder of my property； a cooking place sheltered by a few mats was arranged under a tree close by； and I felt that degree of satisfaction and enjoyment which I always experience when； after much trouble and delay； I am on the point of beginning work in a new locality。
One of my first objects was to inquire for the people who are accustomed to shoot the Paradise birds。 They lived at some distance in the jungle； and a man was sent to call them。 When they arrived； we had a talk by means of the 〃Orang…kaya 〃as interpreter； and they said they thought they could get some。 They explained that they shoot the birds with a bow and arrow； the arrow having a conical wooden cap fitted to the end as large as a teacup； so as to kill the bird by the violence of the blow without making any wound or shedding any blood。 The trees frequented by the birds are very lofty； it is therefore necessary to erect a small leafy covering or hut among the branches； to which the hunter mounts before daylight in the morning and remains the whole day； and whenever a bird alights they are almost sure of securing it。 （See Frontispiece。） They returned to their homes the same evening； and I never saw anything more of them； owing； as I afterwards found； to its being too early to obtain birds in good plumage。
The first two or three days of our stay here were very wet； and I obtained but few insects or birds； but at length； when I was beginning to despair； my boy Baderoon returned one day with a specimen which repaid me for months of delay and expectation。 It was a small bird a little less than a thrush。 The greater part of its plumage was of an intense cinnabar red； with a gloss as of spun glass。 On the head the feathers became short and velvety； and shaded into rich orange。 Beneath； from the breast downwards； was pure white； with the softness and gloss of silk； and across the breast a band of deep metallic green separated this colour from the red of the throat。 Above each eye was a round spot of the same metallic green； the bill was yellow； and the feet and legs were of a fine cobalt ó111e； strikingly contrasting with all the other parts of the body。 Merely in arrangement of colours and texture of plumage this little bird was a gem of the first water； yet there comprised only half its strange beauty。 Springing from each side of the breast； and ordinarily lying concealed under the wings； were little tufts of greyish feathers about two inches long； and each terminated by a broad band of intense emerald green。 These plumes can be raised at the will of the bird； and spread out into a pair of elegant fans when the wings are elevated。 But this is not the only ornament。 The two middle feathers of the tail are in the form of slender wires about five inches long； and which diverge in a beautiful double curve。 About half an inch of the end of this wire is webbed on the outer side only； awe coloured of a fine metallic green； and being curled spirally inwards form a pair of elegant glittering buttons； hanging five inches below the body； and the same distance apart。 These two ornaments； the breast fans and the spiral tipped tail wires； are altogether unique； not occurring on any other species of the eight thousand different birds that are known to exist upon the earth； and； combined with the most exquisite beauty of plumage； render this one of the most perfectly lovely of the many lovely productions of nature。 My transports of admiration and delight quite amused my Aru hosts； who saw nothing more in the 〃Burong raja〃 than we do in the robin of the goldfinch。
Thus one of my objects in coming to the far fast was accomplished。 I had obtained a specimen of the King Bird of Paradise （Paradisea regia）； which had been described by Linnaeus from skins preserved in a mutilated state by the natives。 I knew how few Europeans had ever beheld the perfect little organism I now gazed upon； and how very imperfectly it was still known in Europe。 The emotions excited in the minds of a naturalist； who has long desired to see the actual thing which he has hitherto known only by description； drawing； or badly…preserved external coveringespecially when that thing is of surpassing rarity and beauty； require the poetic faculty fully to express them。 The remote island in which I found myself situated； in an almost unvisited sea； far from the tracks of merchant fleets and navies； the wild luxuriant tropical forest； which stretched far away on every side； the rude uncultured savages who gathered round me； all had their influence in determining the emotions with which I gazed upon this 〃thing of beauty。〃 I thought of the long ages of the past； during which the successive generations of this little creature had run their courseyear by year being born； and living and dying amid these dark and gloomy woods； with no intelligent eye to gaze upon their loveliness； to all appearance such a wanton waste of beauty。 Such ideas excite a feeling of melancholy。 It seems sad； that on the one hand such exquisite creatures should live out their lives and exhibit their charms only in these wild inhospitable regions； doomed for ages yet to come to hopeless barbarism； while on the other hand； should civilized man ever reach these distant lands； and bring moral； intellectual； and physical light into the recesses of these virgin forests； we may be sure that he will so disturb the nicely…balanced relations of organic and inorganic nature as to cause the disappearance； and finally the extinction； of these very beings whose wonderful structure and beauty he alone is fitted to appreciate and enjoy。 This consideration must surely tell us that all living things were _not_ made for man。 Many of them have no relation to him。 The cycle of their existence has gone on independently of his； and is disturbed or broken by every advance in man's intellectual development； and their happiness and enjoyment； their loves and hates； their struggles for existence； their vigorous life and early death； would seem to be immediately related to their own well…being and perpetuation alone； limited only by the equal well…being and perpetuation of the numberless other organisms with which each is more or less intimately connected。
After the first king…bird w