passerinjE. 281 



of several other genera, gives a velvet tissue to the feathers which cover 

 tiiese nostrils, and frequently a metallic lustre, at the same time that it 

 singularly devclopes the feathers which cover several parts of the body. 

 They are natives of New Guinea and of the adjoining islands; and as it 

 is difficult to obtain them except from the savage inliabitants of those 

 countries, who prepare them for the purpose of plumes by cutting off the 

 wings and feet, it was thought for some time that the first species was 

 really destitute of those members, and lived constantly in air, supporting 

 itself there by its long feathers. Some travellers, however, having suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining perfect individuals of certain species, it is now known 

 that their feet and wings indicate their claim to the place we have assigned 

 to them. They are said to live on fruits, and to be particularly fond of 

 aromatics. 



The feathers on the flanks of some of them are silky, and singularly 

 extended into bunches longer than the body, which give such a hold to 

 the wind that they are very often swept away by it. There are also two 

 bearded filaments adhering to the rump, which are as long, and even 

 longer than the feathers on the flanks* 



P. apoda, L.; Enl. 254; Vaill. Ois. de Par. pi. 1; Vieill. Ois. 

 de Par. pi. 1. (The Emerald Bird of Paradise, the most anciently 

 celebrated). Size of a thrush ; maronne ; top of the head and neck 

 yellow; circumference of the bill and throat of an emerald green. 

 It is the male of this species which is ornamented with those long 

 bundles of yellowish feathers, employed by the ladies as plumes. 

 There is a somewhat smaller race. 



P. rubra, Vaill. pi. 6; Vieill. pi. 3. The fascicles'of flank fea- 

 thers of a beautiful red, and the filaments broader and concave on 

 one side. 



In others we stiU find the filaments, but the feathers on the flanks, 

 although somewhat elongated, do not extend beyond the tail. 



P.regia, Enl. 496; Vaill. 7; Vieill. 5, and Galer. 96. (The 

 Manucode(a).) Size of a finch; a fine purple maronne; white belly; 

 a band across the breast, the tips of the flank-feathers, and the barbs 

 which widen the extremities of the two long filaments, emerald- 

 green f. 



P. magnifica; Sonnerat, 98; Enl. 631; Vaill. 9; Vieill. 4. 



Maronne above ; green beneath and on the flanks : quills of the 



wings yellow ; a fascicle of straw-coloured feathers on each side of 



the neck, another of a deeper yellow opposite to the fold of the wing. 



Some have the slender feathers on the flanks, but they are short, and 



the filaments on the rump are wanting. 



P. aurea, Gm. ; P. sexsetacea, Shaw ; Sonnerat, pi. 97; Enl. 

 635 ; Vaill. 12 ; VieUl. 6, and Galer. 97. Size of a Thrush ; black ; 



* M. Vieillot ha3 made a genus of my first division, which he calls Samalia. 

 t Vieillot makes his genus Cincinnurus of this species. 



I^T (rt) Manucodervata signifies, it is said, at the Moluccas, bird of God. This 

 title is common to all the birds of Paradise. 



VOL. I. A A 



