THE SUPERB EPIMACHUS. 



145 



SUPERB PLUME BlllD. Uplmachui speciosus. 



Until some method has been discovered by which these naked parts can be restored to 

 their original shape and brilliancy, they will always present that repulsive shrivelled appear- 

 ance which is too familiar to all who have compared a stuffed skin with the living, or even 



with the dead 

 creature before 

 decay has fairly 

 set in. Mr. Wa- 

 terton's method 

 is the best that 

 has as yet been 

 put forward, 

 but it is too 

 tedious to be of 

 much service 

 even in the 

 closet, and in 

 the field or for- 

 est would occu- 

 py so much time 

 that the collec- 

 tor would find 

 his days taken 

 up with the 

 never -ending 



labor of preserving the skin, and could give no time to 

 the observation of habits, or the procuring of specimens. 

 Perhaps some mode of injection might be discovered 

 which would answer the purpose of preserving the form 

 and color of these appendages, as well as it serves the 

 purpose of the anatomist in preserving the form and 

 color of the veins and arteries, and which would not 

 require any cumbrous apparatus beyond the usual outfit 

 of a hunter-naturalist. 



To proceed with the description of the Neomorpha. 

 The tail is of the same deep black-green as the rest of 

 the body, but the uniform monotony of the tint is pleas- 

 ingly interrupted by a broad band of pure white which 

 is drawn round its edges. The bill is of a rather dark- 

 brown color, and is rather lighter towards the extremity 

 than at the base. This bird is a native of New Zealand. 



PLUME BIRDS. 



WE now come to the true Plume Birds, which have 

 been placed in various positions by the different zoolo- 

 gists who have written upon this subject ; some classing 

 them with the bird of paradise, to which they certainly 

 bear a great external resemblance, both on account of 

 the luxuriancy and the peculiar brilliant hues of the 

 plumage, while others have considered them as nearer 

 allied to the honey-suckers, and have, in consequence, placed them in close proximity to those 



beautiful birds. 



The SUPEEB EPIMACHUS is a native of New Guinea, and is one of the most lovely creature 



VOL. n. 19. 



