BIRDS OF PARADISE. 339 



wise forms a genus by itself, and is characterised by the absence of long thread-like 

 plumes on the head, and the presence of two long projecting feathers from each 

 wing, which are capable of being erected at the pleasure of their owner. Its dis- 

 coverer, Mr. Wallace, describes this bird as being generally of a delicate olive- 

 brown colour, deepening to a kind of bronzy olive in the middle of the back, and 

 changing to a delicate ashy violet with metallic reflections on the crown of the head ; 

 the feathers covering the nostrils and extending half-way down the beak being loose 

 and upwardly curved. On the breast the scale-like feathers are margined with a 

 rich metallic bluish green ; while the same colour embraces the throat and sides 

 of the neck, together with the long pointed plumes arising from the sides of the 

 breast. The two long projecting white feathers springing from near the bend 

 of the wings are fully 6 inches in length, and are spread out, whenever the bird 

 is excited, at right angles to the wings. The beak is horny olive, the iris deep 

 olive, and the foot bright orange. In total length the bird measures 11 

 inches. The standard-wing, which resembles the rest of its tribe in being in 

 constant motion, frequents the lower boughs of the forest trees, "flying from 

 branch to branch, clinging to the twigs, and even to the smooth and vertical 

 trunks almost as easily as a woodpecker. It continually utters a harsh, croaking 

 note, somewhat intermediate between that of a Paradisea "/«»/" and Cicinnurus 

 regius. The males at short intervals open and flutter their wings, erect the long 

 shoulder-feathers, and spread out the elegant green breast-shields." It is noteworthy 

 that the examples of this species from Gilolo differ somewhat in coloration and the 

 conformation of the plumes from those inhabiting Batchian, so that an expert is at 

 once able to say from which of the two islands any given specimen was obtained, 

 superb Bird of The acme of strange plumal adornment (which in all these cases 



Paradise. j s j n a p probability developed to attract the admiration and attention 

 of the female, since it can have no other conceivable object) seems to be attained 

 by the superb bird of paradise (Lophorhina superba), which is chiefly characterised 

 by the presence of an enormous erectile forked shield of velvety black feathers, 

 arising from the nape of the neck, and when in repose lying flatly on the back. 

 So strange and apparent^ incongruous is this shield that it might suggest to the 

 beholder that the tail of some other bird had been stuck on to the skin, were it 

 not that its feathers are of a different type. The ground-colour of the plumage is 

 of the deepest black, but with bronze reflections on the neck, while the feathers of 

 the head are metallic green and blue. Spreading over the breast is a shield 

 composed of narrow and rather stiff feathers, which extends in a pointed form 

 along each side, and is emarginate in the middle. In colour this is bluish green, 

 with a satiny sheen ; the back-shield, on the other hand, is velvety black, with 

 reflections of bronze and purple, its outermost feathers exceeding the primaries 

 of the wing in length. So far as Dr. Guillemard could gather from native reports, 

 it would seem that the enormous crest, as it appears displayed during the 

 courtship of the female, is not only raised, but spread widely out in a fan- 

 like manner, while the chest-shield is similarly expanded. Hence the head of 

 the bird forms the centre of an irregular circle of feathers of velvety black and 

 emerald, completely concealing the rest of the body when viewed from the front. 

 The remaining genera of the family, such as Phony gama of New Guinea and 



