THE KING blRI) Ol' I'ARAUISK. 273 



witli thoir bills, pecking and biting with grout resolution. In size this biid is larger 

 than a thrush. The general colour i.s a deep cinnamon, with the exception of the top of 

 the head and the back of the ucck, which arc yellow ; the feathers which encircle the base 

 of the beak as far as the cj'cs, and cover the whole of the throat, are like velvet, and of a 

 deep eracrald-green. In the male, there springs from each side of the chest a full plume, 

 from sixteen to eighteen inches long, comjiosed of slender shafts, with fine, loose, delicate 

 webs ; in some specimens they are bright ycillow at the base, fading gradually into straw- 

 colour ; in others thej- are paler. From tlie tail-coverts spring two slender, naked shafts 

 of great length, which taper gradually to a point, and arc of a deep cinnamon-brown. 

 These elegant appendages are said to be lost during four months of the year. In all 

 probability, as in the instance of the AVhidah-birds and others, these feathers are the 

 decorations of the breeding season — the period in which all birds put on their gayest and 

 most brilliant attire. 



THE MAGNIFICENT BIRD Ol' I'AKADISE.' 



This is a richlj'-colourcd sjjecies ; it is of an orangc-chesiuit colour above, the top of 

 the head and the bade being deeper than the rest. The former, in some species, inclines 

 to purj)le ; the tips of the wings and tail are brown, the throat is blackish, with a purple 

 gloss. The breast and under parts are covered with scale-shaped feathers, of a deep 

 changeable golden green colour, having down the breast a blue reflexion. A double 

 ruff, composed of slender plumes, with slightly detached extremities, springs from the 

 back of' the neck. 



■ The first series arc short and orange-coloured, with a black spot at the end of each ; 

 the others are larger and pale yellow. The wing-coverts are orange-coloured, with 

 transverse blackish crescents. From the tail-coverts spring two long, slender shafts of 

 golden green. .In size this bird is somewhat inferior to the greater bird of Paradise. 



THE KING BIRD OF I'AEADISE.f 



This is one of the smallest and rarest of this delightful group. It is about the size of 

 a sparrow. Above, it is of an intense purplish chesnut, and beneath it is white. A 

 zone of golden green extends across the chest ; from the sides spring two fan-like plumes, 

 consisting of six or seven dusky feathers, with the richest golden green. From the tail- 

 coverts spring two long slender shafts, each elegantly terminating in a broad emerald 

 web, rising from one side only of the shaft, and disposed into a flat spii'al curl, as will 

 be seen in the figure. Tlie beak and legs are yellowish brown. 



We give, in addition to the birds now described, representations of the heads of a few 

 others, wliich, with the whole of the species, will reward all the attention they receive. 



Such, then, is a brief survey of the Thied Family of the Conirostkes, to which 

 is given the general appellation of the Coiu'iD.r;. It includes a great \'ariety of birds, 

 a description of which we commenced with the rook, and now terminate with the birds 

 of Paradise. 



* Paradisica Maguitica. f Paradiswa Kegia. 



