566 The Birds of Paradise. 



covered by myself in the island of Batcliian, and especially 

 distino-uished by a pair of long narrow feathers of a white 

 color which spring from among the short plumes which clothe 

 the bend of the wing, and are capable of being erected at 

 pleasure. The general color of this bird is a delicate olive- 

 brown, deepening to a kind of bronzy olive in the middle of 

 the back, and changing to a delicate ashy violet, with a metal- 

 lic gloss, on the crown of the head. The feathers, which cov- 

 er the nostrils and extend half-way down the beak, are loose 

 and curved upward. Beneath, it is much more beautiful. 

 The scale-hke feathers of the breast are margined with rich 

 metalUc blue-green, which color entirely covers the throat and 

 sides of the neck, as well as the long pointed plumes which 

 spring from the sides of the breast, and extend nearly as far 

 as the end of the wings. The most curious feature of the 

 bird, however, and one altogether unique in the whole class, 

 is found in the pair of long narrow delicate feathers which 

 spring from each wing close to the bend. On lifting the wing- 

 coverts they are seen to arise from two tubular horny sheaths, 

 which diverge from near the point of junction of the carpal 

 bones. As already described at page 336, they are erectile, 

 and when the bird is excited are spread out at right angles to 

 the wing and slightly divergent. They are from six to six and 

 a half inches long, the upper one slightly exceeding the lower. 

 The total length of the^bird is eleven inches. The bill is 

 horny olive, the iris deep olive, and the feet bright orange. 



The female bird is remarkably plain, being entirely of a dull 

 pale earthy brown, with only a slight tinge of ashy violet on 

 the head to" relieve its general monotony ; and the young males 

 exactly resemble her. (See figures at page 336.) 



This bird frequents the lower trees of the forests, and, like 

 most paradise birds, is in constant motion — flying from branch 

 to branch, clinging to the twigs and even to the smooth and 

 vertical trunks almost as easily as a wood-pecker. It contin- 

 ually utters a harsh, creaking note, somewhat intermediate be- 

 tween that of Paradisea apoda and the more musical cry of 

 Cicinnurus regius. The males at short intervals open and 

 flutter their wings, erect the long shoulder feathers, and spread 

 out the elearant screen breast-shields. 



The Standard Wing: is found in Gilolo as well as in Batch- 



