530 Waigiou. 



ways dropiDed, these all got away, and I began to think we 

 were not to get this magnificent species. At length the fruit 

 ripened on the fig-tree close by my house, and many birds 

 came to feed on it ; and one morning as I was taking my cof- 

 fee, a male j^aradise bird was seen to settle on its top. I seized 

 my gun, ran under the tree, and, gazing up, could see it flying 

 across from branch to branch, seizing a fruit here and another 

 there, and then, before I could get a sufficient aim to shoot at 

 such a height (for it was one of the loftiest trees of the troj)- 

 ics), it was away into the forest. They now visited the tree 

 every morning ; but they staid so short a time, their motions 

 were so rapid, and it was so difficult to see them, owing to 

 the lower trees, which impeded the view, that it was only after 

 several days' watching, and one or two misses, that I brought 

 down my bird — a male in the most magnificent plumage. 



This bird differs very much from the two large species 

 which I had already obtained, and, although it wants the grace 

 imparted by their long golden trains, is in many resj^ects more 

 remarkable and more beautiful. The head, back, and shoul- 

 ders are clothed w^ith a richer yellow, the deep metallic green 

 color of the throat extends farther over the head, and the 

 feathers are elongated on the forehead into two little erectile 

 crests. The side-plumes are shorter, but are of a rich red 

 color, terminating in delicate white jjoints, and the middle tail 

 feathers are represented by two long rigid glossy ribbands, 

 which are black, thin, and semi-cylindrical, and droop graceful- 

 ly in a spiral curve. Several other interesting birds were ob- 

 tained, and about half a dozen quite new ones ; but none of 

 any remarkable beauty, except the lovely little dove (Ptilono- 

 pus pulchellus), which with several other pigeons I shot on 

 the same fig-tree close to ray house. It is of a beautiful green 

 color above, Avith a forehead of the richest crimson, while be- 

 neath it is ashy white and rich yellow, banded with violet red. 



On the evening of our arrival at Muka I observed what ap- 

 peared like a display of aurora borealis, though I could hardly 

 believe that this was possible at a point a little south of the 

 equator. The night was clear and calm, and the northern sky 

 presented a diffused light, with a constant succession of faint 

 vertical flashings or flickerings, exactly similar to an ordinary 

 aurora in England. The next day was fine, but after that the 



