BIRDS OF PARADISE, a large family (Paradiseidae) of remarkably handsome birds all native to the Papuan region ; their nearest allies are the crows. In brilliance and beauty of plumage the males are unequalled, but the females are duller. The largest, the great bird of paradise (Paradisea apoda), is confined to the Aru Islands. The adult males have a yellow head, green throat and golden plumes, the latter, as in most Paradiseidae, springing from beneath the wings. During the breeding season, they display these before the females, many congregating on special trees for this purpose (for an account of which, see Wallace's Malay Archipelago) . They are then easily approached and many are shot by the natives. The lesser bird of paradise (P. minor) is smaller and somewhat less brilliantly coloured. It is found throughout New Guinea and the neighbouring islands. The king bird of paradise (Cicinurus regius) has the two middle tail feathers coiled into a spiral and webbed only at the ends. The twelve-wired (Seleucides alba) is so called from the fact that twelve of its plumes are transformed into long, wire-like bristles. There are numerous species, many known only from single skins. Birds of paradise are omnivorous and, possibly, polygamous. (See