The BIRD of PARADISE. By the Natives of the Molucca Islands (where they breed, and by whom they are worshipped,) called MANUCODIATA, i. e. The Bird of God. Because they know not from whence they come; and for their beauty. From his swift flight to and again, the Indians, in their Language, call him a Swallow. Marggravius reckons up several sorts of them, and describes them all. The least kind, Clusius calls the King. Because (as he saith, from the report of the Dutch Mariners) as they fly together, about 30 or 40 in a flock, he always keeps higher than the rest.) Besides the smallness of his Body, in respect to what his copious Plumes shew him; the long Feathers which grow upon his sides under his Wings, and are extended thence a great way beyond his Tail; and the two long Strings or Quills which grow upon his Rump, do most remarkably distinguish him from all other Birds. He is elegantly figur'd in Calceolarius's Musæum, with the Title of Chamæleon Æreus.

Antonius Pigafeta was the first that brought this Bird, or any certain knowledge of him into Europe. (c) (c) Clusius. Before which, he was believed, not only by the Vulgar, but by Naturalists, (amongst whom Scaliger (d) See Exerc. 228. S. 2.(d) was one) that they had no Legs, but always flew up and down suspended in the Air, by the help of their Wings and Tail spread all abroad. According to which silly fancy, he is also pictur'd in Gesner.

Agreeable to this conceit, it is likewise commonly thought, and by Georgius de sepibus, who describes the Musæum Romanum, is affirmed, that those two long Quills that grow upon the top of this Birds Rump, being at his pleasure twined or wrapped round about the boughs of Trees, serve quietly to suspend him. Whereas, as Mr. Wray hath also rightly observed, (a) (a) Willoughb. Ornith. not being Muscular, it is impossible they should be of any such use. His hooked Claws shew him to be a Bird of Prey; and he ordinarily flys at Green-Finches, and other little Birds, and feeds on them. (b) (b) Bont. H. N. l. 5. The Tarnacenses shoot them down with Darts. (c)

The Upright FOLIATED CORAL. In all respects like the former, saving that it is less spread.

Coral is fish'd for from the beginning of April to the end of July. Not in the Ocean, but the Mediteranian-Sea (a) Tavern. Ind. Voyage, Chap. 21. only. In which there are eight or nine Fisheries, among the Rocks, no where above forty miles from Land. Three upon the Coast of Sardinia; on that of France, two; of(b) J. de Læt. Sicily, Catalonia, Corsica, and Majorque, one. (a) Of white Coral, there is great abundance in Brasile. (b)(c) Of the Orig. of Forms, 136.

Of the Nature and Generation of Coral, it is affirmed by the Honourable Mr. Boyle, (c) That whilst it grows, it is often found soft and succulent, and propogates it Species. And by Georg. de Sepibus, (d) (d) Mus. Rom. p. 45. Col. 2. That of those who had been us'd for many years, to dive for Coral in the Red- Sea, Kircher learned thus much; That it would sometimes let fall a Spermatick Juyce, which lighting upon any (steady) Body, would thereupon produce another Coral. And (e) Dr. Brown's Trav. further, by Wormius and Tavernere, from the Relations of others, That this Juyce is white or milky. Which may seem the more credible, when we consider, that the like milky substance is found in divers Mines. (e) Sometimes (f) Phil. Trans. N. 100. inclosed as is observed by Mr. George Planton, in great Hollows of the Metallick Rock. (f) And that Mr. Beamont hath found in the Hollows of some Stones called Entrochi, and Rock-Plants, or a kin to them, an evident concretion of such milky Juyce. (g)(g) Phil. Trans. 129. p. 730. l. pen.

Of Corals, are chiefly prepar'd, The Powder ground upon a Marble; the Magisterial Salt; and the Tincture. To good purpose, in some Feavers, and some other Cases. But the Name of Tincture, according to the common notion of it, is a meer deceipt: it being, in truth, no more but a Liquamen, or solution of the Magisterial Salt. For those Acid Liquors which are used as Menstruums for the making of it; by digestion or repeated heats, do always turn red: which not being heeded, the said colour hath been believed to proceed from the Corals. Of the Effect of this Tincture, or rather Salt of Coral, upon a Malignant Feaver, see a Memorable Relation of Boetius in his own Case. (h) (h) De Lap. & G. lib. 2. c. 154. p. 312.

SAND out of a River near Conimbria, in which there are some few sparks of GOLD. Together with a Knob of Gold fus'd out of it. Given by Sir Robert Southwell.

Gold hath the least variety of regular figure, in the Ore, of any Metal. Because, more solid, and therefore, less wanton, than the rest. 'Tis a rare Specimen, mention'd by Georgius de Sepibus, (a) (a) Mus. Roman. which he calls Aurum Ramescens. The Ductility of Gold is admirable: one Grain, in Leaves, is extended to above fifty inches square: and one ounce employ'd in gilding small Hair-Wyre, will be extended to almost an 100 miles in length; as Mr. Boyle hath observ'd. (b)(b) Of Effluv. p. 13. & 14.

The Uses of Gold for Vessels, Coins, Armour, Garments, &c. are infinite. The Luxury of Galienus the Emperour, taught him to powder his Hair with the Dust of Gold. Some Painters, saith Ambrosinus, (c) (c) Aldrov. Mus. Met. hang plated Gold over Vinegar, whereby is produced a pure Blew (as Ceruss out of Lead) which they prefer before the Ultramarine. Of the Art of Refining, see the Phil. Transactions, (d)(d) N. 142. Communicated by Dr. Christ. Merret.

Chymically manag'd, it is reduced to several forms, called Aurum Potabile, Aurum fulminaus, A. Vitæ; as also, Auri Calx, Crocus, Sal, Sulphur, Tinctura, Oleum, Vitriolum, Flos: of which see Libavius, Crollius, Schroder, and others. One principal use of Gold in Medicine is, for the Correction of Mercurial Medicines. The original use of Leaf-Gold in Electuaries, and divers other Preparations, was not only for better grace, but from the opinion of its adding Virtue to them. And Plates of Gold, anciently, have been us'd, especially for Children, as an Amulet. Which I take to be the true reason, why the Kings of England hang a piece of Gold upon those they Touch.