192 The Aviaries and Birds at Boddam CasiJe. 



sun's rays fall upon it. The beauty of the blue side plumes 

 is almost beyond human imagination. It is a native of S.E. 

 New Guinea. 



COUNT RAGGI'S B. of P. (P. raggiana). There are 

 two males of this fine spe:'ies, which most certainly, if one is 

 to judge by their condition and demeanour are enjoying life, 

 in spite of enforced bachelorship. 



The male has the head and neck velvety straw-bull'; fore- 

 head, ear-coverts, cheeks, and throat metallic green, with a narrow 

 straw-cohmred band across the lower threat ; l)ack and wings glrtssy 

 rufous -brown; wing-coverts edged with sti'aw-hu'r ; fm-e neek and 

 chest are covered by a shield of velvety purplisli-brown, remainder 

 of under surface rufous-brown : the flank feathers, forming two large 

 tufts of plumes of richest crimson, with huffish tins; Inll pearl 

 grey; feet ruddy-brown; iris y;4'ow. Total lengtli l.''>w inches, tail 

 5|. Th.e female is mostly ruddy and purplish-brown, much paler 

 below, with hind crown and neck straw-bufi. She is smaller, and 

 the hues of her plumage are duller than those of the male. 



HUNSTEIN'S MAGNIFICENT B. of P. {Diphj/Uodes 

 magnifica) . Three males of this magnificent species in lovely 

 plumage were to he seen disporting themselves in their quar- 

 ters. As this species was figured in colour* and has been 

 described more than once in our pages, further remark is not 

 called for, but a sight of the male in full display is, well, " a 

 sight for the gods." 



LESSER. SUPERB B. of P. (Lophorhina superha- 

 minor). This resplendent species is represented by five speci- 

 mens, unfortunately all males, three of which Avere mature and 

 a sight to feast the eyes upon — their glistening plumage vary- 

 ing with position and each changing angle of light — a rapi'lly 

 changing kaleidoscope of velvety black, and metallic luies of 

 purple, green, blue, bronze, and coppery, making description 

 impossible from the living bird; therefore I give the descrip- 

 tion of the adult male from the nuiseum cat. in ertcnso. 



" General colour above velvety black, somewhat glossed 

 " with bronzy purple ; mantle produced into an elevated shield, 

 " composed of velvety black plumes, glossed under certain lights 

 " with bronze ; wing coverts velvety black i-athcr more distinctly 

 "glossed with purple than the back; quills and tail feathers deep 

 "black, glossed with steel blue; lores and nasal plumes forming 



All notes as to wild life are taken from Sharpe's Mono- 

 graph of the Taradiseidoi . 



*Bird Notes, Vol. I., N.S., November issue. 



