SPLENDID BIRDS 267 



over bowlders, and through tangled growths; and on 

 arriving at the summit of a ridge, we saw in a tree on 

 a neighboring hilltop, a black bird, with a long tail. 

 He was pluming his feathers ; and, as he turned, a 

 gleam like that from a mirror was reflected from the 

 plumes on each side his breast, and he uttered again 

 his long and short whistle. It was the long-tailed bird- 

 of-paradise (Epimaclms), one of the forest gems of 

 New Guinea. The plumage is a velvety-purple and 

 black ; the tail is two feet long ; and the side plumes 

 have a bar of the most exquisite green and gold, ex- 

 tending across the tips. I did not get him, however ; 

 for as we were climbing the hillside, he flew away, and 

 we saw no more of him. 



The next bird that attracted our attention was the 

 magnificent bird-of-paradise {Diphyllodes speciosa). 

 He was in a low tree, and was making a noise 

 somewhat resembling the chatter of our red squirrel. 

 It was some time before I got sight of him, as he 

 seemed to be shy. We concealed ourselves in the 

 bushes, one of the boys imitating his song so per- 

 fectly that he soon came out of the tree, and began 

 peering about for his supposed rival. He looked 

 like a little turkey cock, and carried himself with 

 great dignity. I had little time to admire him, how- 

 ever, for I was afraid he would discover the cheat, 

 and suddenly depart, so I ended his career with a 

 charge of dust shot. It would be almost impossible 



