THE PIE KIND. 207 



long slender filaments growing from the upper 

 part of the rump ; these are longer than the 

 bird's body, and bearded only at the end. By 

 this mark the bird of paradise may be easily 

 known, but still more easily by its gaudy livery, 

 which being so very brilliant, demands to be mi- 

 nutely described. 



This bird appears to the eye as large as a 

 pigeon, though in reality the body is not much 

 greater than that of a thrush. The tail, which is 

 about six inches, is as long as the body ; the 

 wings are large, compared with the bird's other 

 dimensions. The head, the throat, and the neck, 

 are of a pale gold colour. The base of the bill 

 is surrounded by black feathers, as also the side 

 of the head and throat, as soft as velvet, and 

 changeable like those on the neck of a mallard. 

 The hinder part of the head is of a shining green, 

 mixed with gold. The body and wings are chiefly 

 covered with beautiful brown, purple, and gold 

 feathers. The uppermost part of the tail feathers 

 are of a pale yellow, and those under them white, 

 and longer than the former; for which reason 

 the hinder part of the tail appears to be all white. 

 But what chiefly excites curiosity are the two 

 long naked feathers above mentioned, which 

 spring from the upper part of the rump above 

 the tail, and which are usually about three feet 

 long. These are bearded only at the beginning 

 and the end ; the whole shaft for above two feet 

 nine inches being of a deep black, while the fea- 

 thered extremity is of a changeable colour like 

 the mallard's neck. 



47 



