Lesson boarded the ship la Coquille as doctor and amassed a variety of specimens in Peru, Chile and the Malouines. The name 'birds of paradise' was given because they possess unimaginably beautiful feathers and are compared to imaginary birds in Paradise. Tradition runs that they feed on wind, so they are sometimes called 'birds of wind'. Birds of paradise and hummingbirds enjoyed immense popularity in the modern era. Mainly occur in New Guinea. On the present plate is shown paradisaea rubra, which Lesson described as a bird of paradise with plumage looking as if 'crimsoned with blood'. The plate is an hand-painted engraving.

・A full facsimile is available at IPA web site