SUPERB BIRD OP PARADISE.— Poradisea superba. 



bold and elegant curve in their course. Subtracting these elongated shafts, the total 

 length of the adult male is al)out tliirteen inches. The female is comparatively a sober- 

 plumaged bird, having no gem-Uke feathers or floating plumes, and being coloured of a 

 deep chocolate, a reddish-brown, and pure white. 



Although undistinguished by the wonderful floating plumes which form so conspicuous 

 a decoration of the preceding species, and not being equal to it in dimensions, the Superb 

 Bird of Paeadise is by no means the least curious of this group. 



In this bird, the scapulary feathers are greatly developed, being elongated and widened 

 so as to form a very large double plume or crest, which lies along the back and sides when 

 the bird is at rest, but can be raised at will, and then overtops the head on each side in 

 the manner sliown in the engraving. As if to balance this shoulder-crest, another curious 

 tuft of feathers hangs from the breast, spreading into a doubly pointed form, the extre- 

 mities being directed downwards. The general colour of the plumage is the deepest 

 imaginable violet "shot" with gi-een, appearing of a velvety blackness from its very 

 intensity, and only flashing forth in the brighter hues as the light falls upon the edge of 



