471 



UIKhS OF PAKAl'ISl-'.. 



r.lltlis OF PARA1HSK. 



476 



Of this genus, Paratia temlaeta (Paraditea a*rta of Umelin, Para- 

 4iM tenelaaa of Latham, the Sifilet of Buffoo) U an example. The 

 figure repnsenU a male. 



The Sifilet (Parotia Kxulacta). 



LopAorina. Beak fimiwhcd with elongated feathers to just beyond 

 the middle, narrow above, slender, straight, notched, and bent at the 

 tip ; feathers of the neck long and disposed in a wing-form. Of this 

 genus, Lofhorina tuprrba (Paraditea tuptrba of Latham, Le Superbe 

 of Buffon) U an example. 



The Superb (Lophorina titferba). 



Cmcwumrta. Beak furnished at the base with small feathers directed 

 forward*, slender, convex above, a little compressed at the aides, finely 

 jagged and bent towards the tip ; hypochondria! feathers broad, elon- 

 gated, and truncated. 



Of this genus, Cincinnnriu reyiui (Paraditea rtffia of Linnnms, King- 

 Bird of Paradise of Petiver, who has this note" Brought from the 

 Molucca Inland*, and rarely to be seen here but in the cabinets uf the 

 most curious, as with Dr. Sloan, and in the repository of the Royal 

 Society" andLeManucodeofBuffon)Ugivenaaan example. The figure 

 represent* a male. 



.Somalia. Beak robust, convex above, furnished at the base with 

 velvet feathers, straight, compressed laterally, jagged towards the tip ; 

 hypochondria! feathers very long, flexible, decomposed, or cervical 

 plumes moderate and stiff Of this there are two sections, the type 

 Ming Parailwca maynijlca of Latham (Le Magninque of Buffon). 



But perhaps the most elegant of all these birds is that which is best 

 known and most often seen, the Great Emerald, Le grand Emeraude of 

 the French (I'araduta apoda of Luuueui). 



The cuts, which are taken from Levaillant, may convey some very 

 faint idea of the forms of these birds, whose beauty beggars all des- 

 cription. Even the magnificent works of Levaillant and Vieillot, 

 splendid as they are, cannot represent the vivid and changing tints of 



the originals, though the former had the advantage of the pen.-i! ..f 

 Barraband, whose drawings have all the life and truth of portraits. 

 To these works, and such as these, and to our museums, those who 

 wish to have a distinct notion of what nature can produce in form and 

 brilliancy of plumage must repair. They are all inhabitant* of New 



(illilli .L 



King-Bird of FaradUe (Cinrinnurta refiia). 



One of the best account* we have of the living habits of these bird* 

 is given by M. Lesson, who, though he deeply laments his short stay at 

 New Ouinea (only 13 days), appears to have made the best use of 

 his time. 



Fnraditca magnifica. 



" The Birds of Paradise," says M. Lesson, " or at leant On' Knicr.il.l 

 (Parati: I, inn.), the only species concerning which we possess 



authentic intelligence, live in troops in the vast forests of the country 

 of the Papuans, a group of islands situated under the equator, and 

 u hirh is composed of the islands Arou, Wagiou, and the great inland 

 called New Guinea. They are birds of passage, changing their quarters 

 according to the monsoons. The females congregate in troops, assemble 

 upon the tops of the highest trees in the forest*, and all cry together 

 to call the males. These last are always alone in the midst of some 

 fifteen females, which compose their seraglio, after the manner of 

 the gallinaceous birds." 



M. Lesson then gives the following extract from his journal, written 

 on the spot. After observing that the Birds of Paradise, with lh" 

 exception of two species, were brought to the corvette, La Coquillr, 

 by the Papuans, and that the quantity afforded reason for supposing 

 that these birds, so esteemed in Europe, were singularly multiplied in 

 those countries, he thus continues: 



