BIRDS- OF-PARADISE. 



567 



thread EpimacLus, or Plume-Bird (Seleucides alha^ Lesson), is a little 

 larger than the jay. It has an elongated body, ample, concave -wings, 

 a black beak about two inches, and a tail three inches long ; the legs 

 and feet are of a pink-color, it is a native of New Guinea, and is 

 fully as beautiful and lovely as the preceding species. All its plu- 

 mage has a soft, velvety appearance. The head, neck, and breast, 

 appear black. Across the breast, and on the shoulders, is a circular 

 tuft of black feathers, two or three inches long; those on the sides 



Fig. 8. 



Twelve-wired Paradise-Bird {Seleucides alba). 



of the neck being, at the end, of a metallic green. The wings are of 

 a rich violet, with a brilliant lustre, in some directions appearing in- 

 tensely black. From each side beneath the wings proceed a number 

 of silken, snow-white plumes, whose loose, downy vanelets, are grace- 

 fully waved by the gentlest breeze. The contrast between the gen- 

 eral velvety or lustrous blackness of the bird and the snowy white- 

 ness of these delicate plumes is exceedingly striking, and produces a 

 most pleasing effect. These plumes are about six inches long ; and 

 six of the shafts, on each side, are prolonged about ten inches be- 

 yond the extremity of the web, and there appear like black threads 

 or wires, giving to the bird its common name. The parts of these 

 shafts which bear the web are pure white, as well as the web. The 

 feathers of the Plume-Birds are taken to Europe, and used as an orna- 

 mental part of dress for ladies. 



On the upper floor of the old Arsenal Building (which is open to 

 the public the last four days in the week), in Central Park, New York 

 City, there are several prepared specimens of Birds-of-Paradise, in- 

 cluding five Great Birds, three Red Birds, four King-Birds, four Wal- 

 lace's Birds, one Magnificent Bird, and one Twelve-wired Bird. These 



