88 TENUIEOSTRES. 



astonislimcnt, some of tlicm rising to the stupendous 

 lieig'lit of a hundred and fifty feet^, an elevation to 

 which the circumference of their trunks is quite 

 proportionate. Shrubs and bushes have no exist- 

 ence among this exuberant vegetation; the very 

 creepers are gigantic ; the lianas^ resembhng enor- 

 mous vines, cUmb to the summits of the largest 

 trees, twining around them like serpents, and inter- 

 lacing their stems among the branches. Tlie bril- 

 liant tints that adorn these virgin forests constitute 

 by no means their least striking feature. All hues 

 of gi-een are intermixed with flowers of ample dimen- 

 sions, diversified with every shade of colour, and 

 fruits no less remarkable from the singularity of 

 their shape. Amid this wilderness, the lofty palm- 

 trees are lost beneath the festoons of parasitic plants 

 that wreathe around them, and enormous Mimosas 

 bend beneath the weight of Orchids and gorgeous 

 Epidendrons. It is in the midst of these solitudes, 

 screened by the foliage from the intense heat of the 

 sun, that the Epimachi are found in company with 

 flocks of Parakeets, Crowned Pigeons, Turtle-doves, 

 and Birds of Paradise, even more splendidly deco- 

 rated than they themselves. The Plumed Birds, in- 

 deed, resemble the Birds of Paradise in many parti- 

 culars, more especially in having some of their fea- 

 thers greatly developed, and also in the splendour 

 of their plumage ; they differ from them, however, 

 in the shape of their bill, which is considerably 

 attenuated. Most of the species are indigenous to 

 New Guinea ; but unfortunately, owing to the bar- 

 barism of the natives, their habits and manners are 

 as yet unrecorded by naturalists. One species, found 

 in Australia, is kno^vvTi to ascend the stems of trees 

 in the manner of the creeping birds, and only exer- 

 cises its powers of wing in flying from tree to tree, 

 or to short distances in the forest. 



We select as an example of these elegancies of 

 creation — 



The Twelve-threaded Epimachus {Epmiachus alhus). 



