HARD WICKE 'S S CI EN CE - G OS SIP. 



107 



Bird of Paradise, which perpetuates the memory of 

 a fable respecting these birds (Paradisea apoda of 

 LinnDSUs). It is the largest species known, and is 

 said to be confined to the Aru Islands, and, according 

 to Wallace, is not found in any parts of New Guinea 

 visited by the Malay and Bugis traders, nor in any 

 of the other islands where Birds of Paradise are ob- 

 tained ; but this is by no means conclusive evidence, 

 for it is only in certain localities that the natives 

 prepare skins, and in other places the same birds 

 may be abundant without ever becoming known. It 

 is, therefore, quite possible that this species may 

 inhabit the great southern mass of New Guinea, 

 from which Aru has been separated, while its near 

 ally {P. Papuaiid) is confined to the North-western 

 peninsula." 



In a recent letter from my friend L. RI. D'Albertis, 

 dated from Katau, September, 1876, he says : "The 

 presence of the Great Bird of Paradise [P. apoda) in 

 the centre of New Guinea, but at the same time in 

 almost the same latitude as Aru Island, is of the 

 greatest importance after what Lesson has asserted, 

 and which has been denied by Wallace. I have got 

 specimens in every stage of plumage, and of both 

 sexes, and I have no doubt it is P. apoda and not 

 P. Papua?ia. It is, nevertheless, much smaller than 

 all the specimens I have seen in the British Aluseum 

 and in the collections of M. Beccari and Mr. Cockrell, 

 and if with this distinction, when compared, any 

 other difference may be perceptible, then it will 

 probably prove a new species. For the present, I 

 believe it to be the Paradisea apoda ; I have two 

 beautiful male birds in full plumage." 



It was in 1834 that I had an opportunity of obsen'- 

 ing the habits of a living bird of this species in cap- 

 tivity in the aviary of Mr. Beale, at Macao, in China, 

 and an account of whose habits I then published in 

 my " Wanderings in New South Wales, Sumatra, 

 and China." It was a fine male bird arrayed in full 

 and splendid plumage, and had been in captivity for 

 nine years. The elegant bird had a light, playful, 

 and graceful action, with an arch and impudent look 

 as he throws the head on one side to glance at visitors, 

 uttering his cawing notes. The sounds produced by 

 this bird are very peculiar ; that which seems to be a 

 note of congratulation, and uttered when a visitor 

 approaches, and when he appears delighted at being 

 admired, resembles somewhat the cawing of a raven, 

 but changes to a varied scale in musical gradations. 

 He, hi, ho, haw, repeated rapidly and frequently, as 

 lively and playfully he hops round and along his 

 perches, descending to the second, or lower perch, to 

 be admired, and congratulate the stranger who has 

 made a visit to inspect him ; he frequently raises his 

 voice, and sends forth notes of such power as to be 

 heard at a long distance : these notes are Whock, 

 whock, whock, whock, uttered in a loud, barking 

 tone, the last being given in a low note as a con- 

 clusion. 



! One of the best opportunities of seeing this splen- 

 did bird in all its beauty of action and a display of its 

 rich and delicate plumage, is early in the morning, 

 when he makes his toilet ; for many mornings I 

 watched this charming bird. After his ablutions the 

 beautiful subalar plumes were thrown out and cleaned 

 by being passed gently through the bill ; the short, 

 chocolate-coloured wings are then widely extended 

 and kept in a steady movement, as if preparing for 

 flight, at the same time the long plumes are thrown 

 up over the back, spreading out in a graceful and 

 elegant manner ; and this elevation and depression of 

 the rich golden plumes are continued for some time in 

 quick succession, the bird uttering at the time its 

 cawing notes. After the toilet is complete it ap- 

 proaches close to the bars of its cage to receive dona- 

 tions of living grasshoppers, which it usually receives 

 at this time. When a grasshopper is given to him in 

 an entire state, he places the insect on the perch, 

 keeps it firmly fixed by the claws, and with great 

 rapidity divests it of the legs, wings, &c., and then 

 devours it ; but usually the servant who attends to 

 the aviary prepares the insects ready for him, when 

 he devours them with great [rapidity. The Wumbi, 

 or Lesser Bird of Paradise {P. Paptiatia), is a smaller 

 bird than the former, and has a comparative wide 

 range, being a common species on the mainland of 

 New Guinea, as well as on the islands of Mysol, Sal- 

 watty, Jobie, Biak, and Sook. It is very probable, 

 says Wallace, that it ranges over the whole of the 

 mainland of New Guinea. The opinion of Mr. 

 Wallace has been disproved by M. D'Albertis, who 

 found in the central and south-eastern part of New 

 Guinea the closely-allied species P. Raggiana, sup- 

 planting the P. Papuana of the west. The Red, or 

 Ruby Bird of Paradise {Paradisea rubra) is obtained 

 at Waigiou, and as an instance of limited range, is 

 confined to that locality, a small island off the north- 

 west extremity of New Guinea, where, according to 

 Wallace, it replaces the allied species found in the 

 other islands. D'Albertis, however, discovered a 

 new species in Orangerie Bay in 1873, allied to Para- 

 disea rubra. At first sight it resembled P. rubra, 

 but on a close examination and comparison it was 

 evidently distinct. It was sent to England to Dr. P. 

 L. Sclater, by whom it was described, and at Mr. 

 D'Albertis' request named after his friend the Mar- 

 quis Raggi, Paradisea Raggiana. The ^original speci- 

 men was not in good condition, but he has since 

 obtained at the Fly River and other southern parts of 

 New Guinea specimens, male and female, in every 

 stage of plumage, from the young bird to the adult, 

 and among them some males in full and gorgeous 

 plumage. During his recent expedition to the Fly 

 River, in 1876, he writes to me that he has obtained , 

 but few specimens of P. Raggiana of both sexes ; but 

 in 1875 he found thirty-six specimens, six in full 

 plumage. A most beautiful little paradise bird is 

 found in great numbers widely spread over New 



