Bird of Paradise

the English designation of a family of conirostral birds. They are closely allied to the erows, with which, indeed, they are united by some writers. They have magnificent plumage, especially the males, who can, moreover, elevate quite a canopy of plumes behind their necks. Bird’s Eye, the eye or eyes of a bird. In botany, the name of several plants with small, bright, usually blue, flowers. Bird’s-Eye Maple, curled maple, the wood of the sugar maple when full of little knotty spots, somewhat resembling birds’ eyes, much used in cabinet work. Bird’s-Eye View, the representation of any scene as it would appear if seen from a considerable elevation right above. Bird’s Nest the nest of a bird. Those of the several species vary in their minor details so as to be in most cases distinguishable from each other. Edible birds’ nests are nests built by the col local i a esculent a, and certain other species of swallows i nba biting Sumatra, Java, China, and some other parts of the East. The nests, a Chinese luxury, are formed of a mucilaginous substance, secreted by the birds from their salivary glands.