35 



point out that this varies considerably according to 

 the position as to light from which the bird is viewed. 

 When the light shines upon its back, the plumage 

 appears a rich, shining grass - green ; reverse this 

 position and the green portion of its plumage appears 

 to be overlaid with bronzy-gold. Again, in the full 

 light, the red and blue of nape and underparts are 

 very bright and beautiful, and also very sharply de- 

 fined — vary the positions and these appear at one time 

 almost all red, at another blue appears to predominate, 

 and yet again these portions have a purplish appear- 

 ance. I may say that the beak of my bird has become 

 darker since it has been in my possession, so that it 

 is quite probable that when fully mature it will be 

 blackish-horn, or perhaps blackish in colour. Which- 

 ever of the conditions or variations, according to 

 position, under which the bird is viewed, it has a 

 beautiful and striking appearance. 



This majestic bird has the power of not merely 

 raising the feathers of the crown, but can control the 

 whole of the feathers of the head and neck in this 

 respect to a greater or lesser degree, as will be seen by 

 reference to coloured figure ; but it is in respect of 

 the lovely feathers of the nape and sides of neck that 

 this is most remarkable, for they are not merely erected 

 perpendicularly, but so that they lean forward at a 

 fairly sharp angle ; the movement could not be more 

 striking if each feather had a joint beneath the skin ; 

 the feathers are raised simultaneously, but yet when 

 watched each feather appears to pivot itself upwards 

 and forwards individually. The feathers of the head 

 and sides of face are only slightly raised, not fully to 

 a horizontal position, it is better described as being 



