of the Lesser Bird-of -Paradise. 433 



The last syllables in all these cries, as indicated by the 

 blacker type, are very loud and emphatic. 



Another variation, less often uttered, commences in a high 

 falsetto and sounds like: 



(5) tcec-ca, ca, cd, ca, icd, wa\ whee~ew! (whistled). 



Yet another combination of sounds is : 



(G) icaaa ! wok ! icu ! whee-ew ! whee'ew ! 

 whee-ew! (whistled), wa! 



or 



(7) the same sounds may be reversed, without the preliminary 

 Waaa ! 



Besides the cries that I have endeavoured to write down, 

 many other variations and combinations of the sounds given 

 above may be heard from time to time ; and among the 

 bird's repertoire is one which is apparently a faithful repro- 

 duction of the well-known call of the " Yaffle," and another 

 like the despairing sounds of a hen that has been caught and 

 is about to have its neck wrung. It is not unlikely that the 

 Paradise-Birds, like so many other members of the Crow- 

 tribe, may possess the power of imitating any sounds they 

 hear, and that this individual, while living in Mrs. Johnstone's 

 aviary, may have learned to mimic the cries of the Green 

 Woodpecker and the moribund fowl. 



While sitting at rest the bird also utters many little 

 crooning sounds and growlings in every sort of key. When 

 giving vent to these cries he does not alter his stationary 

 position, but merely stretches out his neck with the bill in a 

 semi-vertical position. Before each syllable is uttered the 

 chest is momentarily swelled out ; as it subsides, the throat 

 becomes distended and simultaneously the gape is opened 

 wide and the note or sound delivered with great force (text- 

 fig. 22, p. 434). 



As the morning sun begins to stream through the glass 

 roof of the Insect-House, and the temperature of the aviaries 

 rapidly rises, the bird becomes more lively. Plying from 

 perch to perch he takes a few mouthfuls of food, stopping 

 now and then to preen and arrange his gorgeous plumage. 



