BIRDS OF PARADISE 1511 



Even more remarkable than the last is the standard wing (Senii- 

 w _ optera wallacei}, from the islands of Batchian and Gilolo, which like- 



wise forms a genus by itself, and is characterized by the absence of 

 long thread-like plumes on the head, and the presence of two long projecting 

 feathers from each wing, which are capable of being erected at the pleasure of their 

 owner. Its discoverer, Mr. Wallace, describes this bird as being generally of a 

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

 back, and changing to a delicate ashy violet with metallic reflections on the crown of 

 the head; the feathers covering the nostrils and extending half way down the beak 

 being loose and upwardly curved. On the breast the scale-like feathers are 

 margined with a rich metallic bluish green; while the same color embraces the 

 throat and sides of the neck, together with the long pointed plumes arising from the 

 sides of the breast. The two long projecting white feathers springing from near 

 the bend of the wings are fully six inches in length, and are spread out, whenever 

 the bird is excited, at right angles to the wings. The beak is horny olive, the iris 

 deep olive, and the foot bright orange. In total length the bird measures eleven 

 inches. The standard wing, which resembles the rest of its tribe in being in 

 constant motion, frequents the lower boughs of the forest trees, ' ' flying from 

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

 almost as easily as a woodpecker. It continually utters a harsh, croaking note, 

 somewhat intermediate between that of a Paradisea apoda and Cicinnurus regius. 

 The males at short intervals open and flutter their wings, erect the long shoulder 

 feathers, and spread out the elegant green breast shields." It is noteworthy that 

 the examples of this species from Gilolo differ somewhat in coloration and the con- 

 formation of the plumes from those inhabiting Batchian, so that an expert is at once 

 able to say from which of the two islands any given specimen was obtained. 



The acme of strange plumal adornment (which in all these cases is 

 in all probability developed to attract the admiration and attention of 

 the female, since it can have no other conceivable object) seems to be 

 attained by the superb bird of paradise {Lophorhina superba), which is chiefly 

 characterized by the presence of an enormous erectile forked shield of velvety black 

 feathers, arising from the nape of the neck, and when in repose lying flatly on the 

 back. So strange and apparently incongruous is this shield that it might suggest 

 to the beholder that the tail of some other bird had been stuck on to the skin, were 

 it not that its feathers are of a different type. The ground color of the plumage is 

 of the deepest black, but with bronze reflections on the neck, while the feathers of 

 the head are metallic green and blue. Spreading over the breast is a shield com- 

 posed of narrow and rather stiff feathers, which extends in a pointed form along 

 each side, and is emarginate in the middle. In color this is bluish green, with a 

 satiny sheen; the back shield, on the other hand, is velvety black, with reflections 

 of bronze and purple, its outermost feathers exceeding the primaries of the wing in 

 length. So far as Dr. Guillemard could gather from native reports, it would seem 

 that the enormous crest, as it appears displayed during the courtship of the female, 

 is not only raised, but spread widely out in a fan-like manner, while the chest shield 

 is similarly expanded. Hence, the head of the bird forms the centre of an irregular 



