Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bird of paradise \Bird" of par"a*dise\ (Zo["o]l.)
   The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus
   {Paradisea} and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the
   adjacent islands. The males have brilliant colors, elegant
   plumes, and often remarkable tail feathers.

   Note: The {Great emerald} ({Paradisea apoda}) and the {Lesser
         emerald} ({P. minor}) furnish many of the plumes used
         as ornaments by ladies; the Red is {P. rubra or
         sanguinea}; the Golden is {Parotia aurea or
         sexsetacea}; the King is {Cincinnurus regius}. The name
         is also applied to the longer-billed birds of another
         related group ({Epimachin[ae]}) from the same region.
         The Twelve-wired ({Seleucides alba}) is one of these.
         See {Paradise bird}, and Note under {Apod}.