BIRDS OF PARADISE. 



487 



to each otner, and then forming two wide circular 

 loops outwards. The colours of this bird are exceed- 

 ingly rich, without being gaudy, and they harmonise 

 remarkably well with each other. It is found prin- 

 cipally in N*ew Guinea, and as it wants the floating 

 feathers on.the flanks, it is like the species mentioned 

 second in order, more of a land bird than of a tree 

 und air one. 



5. SIX-THREADED BIRD or PARADISE (Paradisca 

 fsxtelaceei). Some notion of the general form of 

 this species may be obtained from the annexed 

 representation. It is a native of New Guinea, u\A 

 measures ten or eleven inches in length. The pre- 

 vailing colour of the upper part is rich velvet black. 

 The front and top of the head are thickly set with 

 slender feathers, aliitle produced, and mottled black 

 and white, so that they have something of the 

 appearance of a grey crest. Each side of this bird 

 is furnished with three produced and thread-like 

 feathers, about six inches long, of a black colour, and 

 having a small oval disc at the termination of each. 

 The feathers of the neck have reflections of golden 

 green, and on the flanks there are produced feathers 

 of a black colour, and with large and flocculent webs, 

 which cover the wings when the bird is in a state of 

 repose. The head and breast of this species are of 

 u very rich and brilliant golden green ; they are 

 somewhat long on the breast, and it is the margins of 

 the feathers only which are green, the central part of 

 the feathers being black. The feet and bill are 

 brown. In addition to the six filament-like feathers 

 on the sides, from which the name sexsctacea is de- 

 rived, and the produced feathers on the flanks, some 



all the varieties there is a very rich lustre. Thir 

 species is not so common as some of the others. 



(3. SurEi'.E BIRD OF PARADISE (P. sitpcrba}. This 

 species is smaller than the above-mentioned one, 

 being only between eight and nine inches in length, 

 and altogether it is not so gorgeous in appearance, 

 although its colours are more varied and showy. The 

 clothing feathers on the upper part are black, glossed 

 with reflections of green arid purple ; the forehead 

 has two small crests of black silky feathers ; the 

 fore part of the neck is black, with blue and purple 

 reflections, of which the lower feathers are consider- 

 ably larger than the rest, and form two points, which 

 hang down the sides of the breast, something in the 

 form of a forked tail. The back of the neck and 

 breast are of u rich golden green; the belly, and also 

 the feet and bill, arc black. From the scapulars 

 there arise long feathers of loose texture and of an 

 intense velvet black, which curve backwards and 

 outwards, and in part cover the wings. This species 

 is found throughout the whole range of the migration 

 from Ternate to New Guinea. The following figure 

 will give some general idea of its form. 



Six-threaded Bird of Paradise- 



of the coverts have their shafts ending in produced 

 filaments. Altogether, this is one of the most gor- 

 geous birds of the genus, though its colours are five 

 in number. The black, which is the prevailing colour, 

 is, from its velvety texture, of the most intense depth, 

 not returning a single particle of light, while the blue 

 and yellow of which the green is formed show every 

 tint, according as they are turned to the sun, from 

 the finc?t gold to the very verge of blackness, and in 



P. supcrba. 



7. SMALL GUKEN BIRD or PARADISE (Paradisea 

 minor). This bears so near a resemblance to P. 

 magift, the species first described, that it may be only 

 a coloured variety, arising from age, or some other 

 circumstance. It has been found only, or chiefly, in 

 New Guinea. It is about nine or ten inches in 

 length from the point of the bill to the end of the 

 tail. The upper part is bright maroon ; the sides of 

 the head, the back of the neck, and upper part of 

 the back, pale yellow; the feathers at the base of the 

 bill soft and velvety, and black, with purple reflections ; 

 the throat and upper part of the breast bright green : 

 the rest of the under part rich brown ; some of the 

 1 coverts of the wings bright yellow ; the feet yellowish. 

 and the bill yellow, with a black margin on the tonna. 

 The flank feathers are very much produced and 

 flocculent ; they are yellow and white, and the fila- 

 mentous feathers of the tail have a very considerable 

 resemblance to those of mnjur. 



