558 The Birds of Paradise. 



department of the Crystal Palace or the Great Palm House 

 at Kew, they would live in this country for many years. 



The Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra of VieUot), 

 though allied to the two birds already described, is much more 

 distinct from them than they are from each other. It is about 

 the same size as Paradisea papuana (13 to 14 inches long), 

 but differs from it in many particulars. The side-plumes, in- 

 stead of being yellow, are rich crimson, and only extend about 

 three or four inches beyond the end of the tail; they are 

 somewhat rigid, and the ends are curved downward and in- 

 ward, and are tipped with white. The two middle tail-feath- 

 ers, instead of being simply elongated and dej^rived of their 

 webs, are transformed into stiff black ribands, a quarter of an 

 inch wide, but curved Uke a split quill, and resembUng thin 

 half cylinders of horn or whalebone. When a dead bird is 

 laid on its back, it is seen that these ribands take a curve or 

 set which brings them round so as to meet in a double circle 

 on the neck of the bird ; but when they hang downward, dur- 

 ing life, they assume a spiral twist, and form an exceedingly 

 graceful double curve. They are about twenty-two inches 

 long, and always attract attention as the most conspicuous and 

 extraordinary feature of the species. The rich metallic green 

 color of the throat extends over the front half of the head to 

 behind the eyes, and on the forehead forms a Httle double crest 

 of scaly feathers, which adds much to the vivacity of the 

 bird's aspect. The bill is gamboge yellow, and the iris black- 

 ish olive. (Figure at p. 530.) 



The female of this species is of a tolerably uniforjn coffee- 

 brown color, but has a blackish head, and the nape, neck, and 

 shoulders yellow, indicating the position of the brighter colors 

 of the male. The changes of plumage follow the same order 

 of succession as in the other species, the bright colors of the 

 head and neck being first developed, then the lengthened fila- 

 ments of the tail, and last of all, the red side-plumes. I obtain- 

 ed a series of specimens, illustrating the manner in which the 

 extraordinary black tail ribands are developed, which is very 

 remarkable. They first appear as two ordinary feathers, rath- 

 er shorter than the rest of the tail ; the second stage would no 

 doubt be that shown in a specimen of Paradisea ajjoda, in 



