379 



position , and probably serviiig in botli cases to nourish 

 the liighly developed plumage of the adjacent parts. This 

 caiises the throat externally to appear very wide, and 

 as if swoUen, which displays to great advantage the 

 dense, scaly, metallic plumage. The flesh, as migtli be 

 expected, is dry, tasteless, and very tough — to be 

 eatcn only in necessity. By far the greater niunber of 

 the birds I have opened have had their stomachs fidl 

 of fruit , and this seems to be their iisual and favou- 

 rite food. At times, however, they seek after insecta, 

 principally Orthoptera; and I have found one of the 

 largest of the Phasmidae almost entire in the stomach 

 of a fuU-plumaged bird. 



It is only for two or three months of the year, du- 

 ring the height of the east monsoon, that the natives 

 obtain theni; and this circumstance has no doubt led 

 to the statement that they are migratory in Aru, ar- 

 riving from New Guinea at the end of the west, and 

 returning there again at the end of the east monsoon- 

 which is quite incorrect, as they are permament resi- 

 dents in Aru, and the natives know nothing about 

 their being found in New Guinea. About April , wlien 

 the change from the west to the east monsoon occurs, 

 the Paradiseas begin to show the ornamental side fea- 

 thers, and in May and June they have mostly arrived 

 at their fidl perfection. This is probably the season of 

 pairing. They are in a state of excitement and inces- 

 sant activity, and the males assemble together to exer- 

 cise, dress ï\nd display their magnificent plumage. For 

 this purpose they prefer certain lofty, large-Ieavcd forest- 

 trees (which at this time have no fruit), and on these, 

 early in the morning, froiu ten to twenty full-plumaged 



