OF NEW SOUTH WALKS. 207 



appear, and attain their full length before the long tiowing plainea 

 on the side and yellow bar on the shoulder, are full grown. 



I find apparently full-grown males, but without plumes, still 

 having the centre two wire-like tail feathers of great length ; this 

 seems to argue in favour of the side plumes being shed every 

 year, but I am inclined to the other view of the case as stated 

 above. The Baggiance from the south-east end of the island, are 

 slightly larger in their dimensions, than those obtained about 

 Port Moresby on the Laloki River. The plumes also are longer, 

 thicker, and richer — this may be on account of the age of the 

 individuals. 



The natives of Hall Sound, and in fact all along the coast, do a 

 considerable trade in Paradise plumes, taking the birds with 

 nets at night while roosting. Morton failed to obtain any 

 information respecting their nidification, although from the 

 numbers of young birds and females which are to be found all 

 the year round near Port Moresby, they must breed somewhere 

 in the neighbourhood. 



At Orangerie Bay and Amazon Bay, large numbers of plumes 

 were obtained from the natives ; over 70 were obtained in two 

 days. 



61. — CiciNNUEUS REGIUS, Linn. Syst. Nat I, p. 166, ^i. 2 (1766). 



Several fine adult males were obtained by Morton, Blunden, and 

 Broadbent, frequenting the most dense portions of the scrubs on 

 the Laloki River. Like others of its tribe, the king bird indulges 

 in showing off something similar to the preceding ; its cry is not 

 so loud, but otherwise resembles that of P. raggiana. At intervals, 

 immediately after calling, the green-tipped side plumes are raised 

 at right angles with the body, or brought forward and vibrated 

 while expanded, the wings slightly raised. The adult males 

 appear to be solitary ; on no occasion were two or more found 

 together ; like the other species they feed on berries, and seem to 

 be of somewhat of a pugnacious disposition. On the whole, they 

 are difficult to obtain until you become acquainted with their note. 



In the living bird the bill is bright light yellow, and the legs 

 and feet deep blue ; the latter fade very quickly, and the color is 

 quite gone two days after death. {A. M.) 



