THE PERCHING BIRDS 



12 1 



FhnU by IV. Snilh-Ktnt^ F.Z.S. 



QUEENSLAND RIFLE-BIRD 



Thii unique Australian representati've of the Birds of Paradise 

 is ahcut the size of a pigeon. Its plumage ts black luttk a purple 

 shten ; the throat is brilliant metallic emerald-green^ like that of a 

 humming-bird 



fresh. The hut is circular and some 3 feet 

 in diameter, and the mossy lav.-n in front of 

 it ncarl)' twice that expanse. Each hut and 

 garden are, it is behe\ed, though not known, 

 the work of a single pair of birds, or perhaps 

 of the male onl)' ; and it ma_\' be observed 

 that this species, as its trivial name implies, 

 is wholl}' inornate in plumage. Not less 

 remarkable is the more recentl\- described 

 ' bower ' of the Gc )LDEN BowER-EiRD. . . . This 

 structure is said ... to be piled up almost 

 horizontally around the base of a tree to the 

 height of from 4 to 6 feet, and around it are 

 a number of hut-like f^ibrics, having the look 

 of a dwarfed nati\e camp." Allied species, 

 though building no bowers, \'et clear a space 

 of ground some 8 or 9 feet in diameter, on 

 which to displa_\- themselves, and ornament 

 this with little heaps of gaily tinted leaves, 

 replacing them as they fade with fresh 

 specimens. 



We pass next to the birds of the .Starling 

 Family, of which the British .Stari.ixc, is the 

 type. A bird so familiar needs no description 

 here; but we may draw attention to the many 

 interesting phases of plumage this species 

 undergoes. 



The first plumage is a uniform gre}'ish 



r 



brown. Later black feathers, with large white 

 spots at the tips, make their appearance among 

 the brown. These spotted feathers e\-entually 

 replace the brown, and the bird enters upon a 

 second quite distinct phase — a black, spotted 

 with white. Gradually this gives place to a 

 plumage entirely unspotted, the feathers on the 

 breast being spear-shaped. In the adult dress 

 a wondrous variety of metallic reflections is 

 acquired — green, purple, and violet. 



Associating in the autumn and winter in 

 large flocks, starlings move from place to place 

 in search of food. Sometimes the number of 

 birds in these combined flocks rises to an 

 enormous figure. One of the largest of these 

 gatherings recorded in England existed on the 

 property of the late Mr. Miles near Bristol. 

 " This locality is an evergreen plantation . . . 

 covering some acres, to which these birds repair 



?hitt b) tf. Ssvilli-Kinl, F.Z.S. 



RED BIRD OF PARA 



Found only on the small island of IVaigiou^ off 

 of Neiu Guinea 



DISE 



the north-ivrst roast 



