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Birds of Paradise at the Zoological Gardens.—One of the most beautiful and interesting additions to the menagerie of the Zoological Society has just been made, by the safe arrival in the Regent's Park of two living birds of paradise (Paradisea papuana). The restricted habitat of these birds, and the dangers and difficulties attending an exploration of their haunts in the unhealthy climate of New Guinea, have hitherto rendered almost hopeless any attempt to procure living specimens of these lovely birds. There are but few instances known of birds of paradise having been kept in confinement,

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and it is believed that the bird which died at Windsor about forty years ago, in the possession of the late Princess Augusta, is the only example which had been seen alive in Europe prior to the present arrival. Mr. A. R. Wallace, the indefatigable traveller and explorer of some of the rarely visited islands of the Indian Archipelago, has for some time been commissioned by the Zoological Society to fill up this gap in their collection; but all his endeavours failed to preserve alive some specimens he obtained. By chance, however, and after he had left the neighbourhood of New Guinea, he fell in with two of the much-desired birds, which had been a short time in confinement, and these, under his continued care and attention, were safely landed in England on Tuesday last. The birds are both males. They appear to have suffered little from their long journey, and, excepting that their plumes are apparently but half grown, their condition is as perfect as could be desired. Fortunately they are exceedingly tame, taking food readily from the hand, and displaying their beautiful plumage without showing any signs of fear. A dried skin of one of their brethren was immediately recognised, although at some little distance, and called forth loud and frequent caws, proclaiming their relationship to the Corvidæ, with which family ornithologists have associated them, and leading naturalists to hope that, like their congeners, they may prove hardy and long-lived in captivity. Their manners and customs will form an interesting study.—E. W. H. Holdsworth.