The Superb Bird of Paradise. 



563 



A still more rare aud beaiitifnl species than the last is the 

 Diphyllodes wilsoni, described by Mr. Cassiii from a native 

 skin in the rich museum of Philadelphia. The same bird was 

 afterward named "Diphyllodes respublica" by Prince Bona- 

 parte, and still later, " Schlegelia calva," by Dr. Bernstein, who 

 was so fortunate as to obtain fresh specimens in Waigiou. 



In this species the upper mantle is sulphur yellow, the low- 

 er one and the wings pure red, the breast-plumes dark green, 

 and the lengthened middle tail-feathers much shorter than in 

 the allied species. The most curious difference is, however, 

 that the top of the head is bald, the bare skin being of a rich 

 cobalt blue, crossed by several lines of black velvety feathers. 



It is about the same size as Diphyllodes speciosa, and is no 

 doubt entirely confined to the island of Waigiou. The female, 

 as figured and described by Dr. Bernstein, is very like that of 

 Cicinnurus regius, being similarly banded beneath ; and we 

 may therefore conclude that its near ally, the " Magnificent," 

 is at least equally plain in this sex, of which specimens have 

 not yet been obtained. 



The Superb Bird of Paradise was first figured by Buffon, 

 and was named by Boddaert, Paradisea atra, from the black 



THE SUPERB BIRD OF PARADISE {LophoHna tttro). 



ground color of its plumage. It forms the genus Lophorina 



