recently discovered Species of Paradisea. 201 



Fergusson Island was so named by Capt. Moresby, who 

 calculated that the mountain called Kilkerran (the highest 

 near the northern coast) reaches an altitude of 6000 feet above 

 the sea. Two other large islands_, Goodenough Island and 

 Normandy Island, lie close to Fergusson Island, and form 

 the chief islands of the group. 



Paradisea decora, as we have proposed to call this Bird of 

 Paradise, combines the characters of some- of the previously 

 known species. The side-plumes are like those of P. sanguinea, 

 each feather having its barbs towards the end wide apart and 

 destitute of barbules. These feathers are similarly formed in 

 P. sanguinea ; but in the present bird the barbs are even wider 

 apart. The " wires " of the tail are like those of P. apoda, 

 P. minor, and P. raggiana, the feathers having a simple stem 

 on which the atrophied barbs become more and more evan- 

 escent till they disappear at the middle of the feather to 

 reappear again at its extremity. In P. sanguinea the stem 

 is broad and flattened. 



The side-plumes of P. decora are very peculiar, inasmuch 

 as a number of the anterior plumes are quite short, with the 

 barbs of each feather much lengthened towards the end ; the 

 distal ends of these feathers are deep rich vinous red, and 

 appear as if the pigment which colours the elongated plumes 

 were concentrated in these shorter ones. 



The breast of P. decora is of a soft vinaceous lilac, and in 

 this respect differs from that of all its congeners. The 

 throat is velvet-green, showing two shades, owing to the 

 feathers nearer the chin reflecting the light at a different 

 angle. This darker-looking patch is larger in P. decora than 

 in the other species. The back, except the narroAV green 

 forehead, is straw-coloured, like that of P. minor. 



Mr. Groldie^s series contains males in all stages of deve- 

 lopment. The youngest are like the females, but with throat 

 green ; the breast is of a ruddy tint, vermieulated with dusky 

 marks on each feather. In the first plumage the two central 

 rectrices are narrow and elongated, but Avith barbs &c. as in 

 the perfect feather; they project beyond the rest of the tail- 

 feathers, the length of the projection varying. In some 



