Pat Berry, age 13, of Duluth, Minnesota, for her question:

Where is the bird of paradise found_?

There was a time when people believed that these beauteous birds did not belong on the planet earth. Surely, they said, such feathery finery must be on loan from the heavenly realm of Paradise. We still call them birds of paradise, but now know that they are natives of the far side of the globe.

There are 43 species, each more beautiful than his brethren. Though their family name Paradisaeidae suggests that they belong in Paradise, most of them are at home in the jungles of New Guinea. Several others live on neighboring islands and four species are found on the forested slopes of northeastern Australia.

Without a doubt, the assorted birds of paradise are the most gorgeous members of the bird world. It comes as a letdown to learn that their ancestors resembled the common crow and that in some species the females are plain Jane type birds. In most species, the feathery finery belongs to the male birds. And their main occupation is parading and displaying themselves to attract the admiring females. Basically, these show offs are dark, crow type birds enhanced by it lavish tufts of feathers in vivid rainbow colors. In most species, the adornment is an elaborate fan or spray of gorgeous tail feathers. Some wear bright delicate crests along their backs and one species, no larger than seven inches, has a couple of 18 inch plumes streaming back from his little head.

Europe knew nothing of these birds until 1522, when one of Ferdinand Magellan's ships brought back a gift of their plumage for the king of Spain. Soon hundreds, then thousands of their skins were being imported from the East Indies, some of them to enhance hats for humans. However, the jungles of New Guinea were wild regions populated by fierce, head hunting natives. Few visitors to these lands ever returned.