bird of paradise

The bird of paradise, a creature of extraordinary beauty and rarity, appears in the narrative of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea as a prize of both scientific and aesthetic value. During the Nautilus's stop at Gueboroa Island, part of the Papua New Guinea archipelago, Professor Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and the harpooner Ned Land embark on a hunting expedition. While the Canadian's primary goal is to secure fresh meat, the professor is captivated by the prospect of observing one of these fabled birds in its natural habitat. The encounter that follows reveals not only the bird's stunning appearance but also the peculiar circumstances that can lead to its capture, blending natural history with a touch of comic irony.

Identity and Description

The bird of paradise encountered belongs to the "great emerald" species, one of the rarest and finest of the eight species credited to Papua and its neighboring islands. It measures three decimeters in length, with a comparatively small head and small eyes placed near the opening of its beak. Its plumage is a wonderful mixture of hues: a yellow beak, brown feet and claws, hazel wings with purple tips, a pale yellow head and scruff of the neck, an emerald throat, and a belly and chest maroon to brown. Two strands, made of a horn substance covered with down, rise over its tail, which is lengthened by long, very light feathers of wonderful fineness. The islanders poetically name it "the sun bird." This bird is a great rarity, and it is very hard to capture alive. Even after death, there is a major market for these birds, leading natives to create counterfeits by skillfully fitting the magnificent tail feathers, shed during the easterly monsoon season, onto previously mutilated parakeets.

The Capture on Gueboroa Island

The capture of the bird of paradise occurs not through the hunter's skill but through the bird's own intemperance. While exploring the island, Conseil, walking in the lead, stoops suddenly and returns triumphantly carrying a magnificent bird of paradise. He explains that he deserves no great praise, as the bird is "as drunk as a lord" from devouring nutmegs under a nutmeg tree. The bird, tipsy from the potent juice, is reduced to helplessness, unable to fly and barely able to walk. Aronnax, delighted, lets it sleep off its nutmeg. This incident provides a moment of levity and underscores the unpredictable ways of nature, where a creature of such legendary beauty can be brought low by a simple indulgence.

Thematic Significance

The bird of paradise episode serves multiple thematic purposes within the larger narrative. It exemplifies the scientific curiosity that drives Professor Aronnax, who wishes to bring such a specimen back to the zoo at the Botanical Gardens in Paris, which does not own a single live specimen. The bird's beauty and rarity stand in stark contrast to the more practical concerns of Ned Land, who is focused on securing edible game. Furthermore, the episode touches on the theme of human intervention and exploitation of nature, as Aronnax notes the high market value of these birds and the native practice of creating counterfeits to meet demand. The bird of paradise, in its drunken vulnerability, becomes a symbol of the untamed and wondrous aspects of the natural world that the Nautilus's voyage continually reveals.