PERCHING=BIRDS. 135 
miniature cabin made of different mosses, and surround it with a tiny 
verfectly-kept meadow of moss, studded with brilliantly coloured flowers, 
fruits, and insects, which, as they become faded, are constantly replaced. 
The drawings on the adjoining pillar represent the widely different 
gardens and bowers of Amblyornis subalaris (2158 a) [Pl. XXIV.], and 
A, inornata (21758) [ Pl. XXIII. fig. 2]. The beautiful “ Play-house ” of 
the former species is exhibited in a separate case. It was recently 
procured in the Owen Stanley Range, British New Guinea, and was 
received in its present perfect condition. The handsome Green 
Cat-Birds (luredus) (2169), so far as is known, are the only 
members of the family which do not construct a bower. 
Family XLIII. Parapiszip™. Parapisse-Birps. 
The Birds of Paradise are among the most gorgeously attired 
birds, and are confined to the forests of New Guinea and the neigh- 
bouring islands, as well as Australia. Skins of some of the larger 
kinds were formerly articles of commerce, and are still exported in 
some numbers for decorative purposes. About a hundred and fifty 
years ago it was the custom of the natives, in preparing the skins, to 
tear off the legs, and sometimes even the wings. The constant arrival 
in Europe of birds without these natural appendages gave rise to 
the supposition that Paradise-birds were devoid of them. The male 
bird was supposed to float about in mid-air, spreading out his 
long flank-feathers, to form a bower, in which the female built her 
nest! Thus it was that, in 1766, Linneus actually named the largest 
form Paradisea apoda (10), or the Paradise-bird without legs. A glance 
at the structure of the bill and feet will show that these beautiful 
birds are in all respects extremely similar to Crows, which they resemble 
in their nesting-habits, their chief characteristic being their fantastic 
ornamental plumes. A very fine series, including representative forms 
of almost every genus, is exhibited in the Central Case. The number on 
each species refers to a special printed list, copies of which are mounted 
in the Case. 
An interesting preparation of the windpipe of an adult male of the 
Purple-and-Violet Manucode (Phonygama purpureo-violacea) will be 
found in the Case. It shows the remarkable convolutions of the 
trachea between the skin and breast-muscles before finally entering the 
lungs. The call-note of this species is described as being prolonged, 
bass, and guttural. 
[ Table- 
case In 
window. | 
[ Central 
Case. | 
