Birds-of-Paradise 



767 



commences his display by giving forth several short, separate notes and squeaks, 

 sometimes resembling the call of a Quail, sometimes the whine of a pet dog. 

 Next he spreads out his wings, occasionally quite hiding his head; at times 

 stretching upright, he flaps them, as if he intended to take flight, and then with 

 a sudden movement gives himself a half-turn so that he faces the spectators, 

 puffing out his silky white lower feathers. Now he bursts into his beautiful 

 melodious warbling song, so enchanting to hear but so difficult to describe. He 

 sings with a low bubbling note, displaying all the while his beautiful fan-like 



FIG. 214. Six-plumed Bird-of-Paradise, Parotid sefilata. 

 King Bird-of-Paradise, Cicinnurus regius. 



side plumes, which he opens and closes, in time with the variations of his song. 

 These fan plumes can only be expanded when his wings are closed, and during 

 this part of the display he closes his wings and spreads out his short tail, pressing 

 it close over his back so as to throw the long tail wires over his head, while he 

 gently swings his body from side to side. The spiral tips of the wires look like 

 small balls of burnished green metal, and the swaying movement gives them the 

 effect of being tossed from one side to the other. The swaying of the body 

 seems to keep time with the song. Then comes the finale, which lasts only for 

 a few seconds. He suddenly turns round and shows his back, while the white 

 fluffy feathers under the tail bristle in his excitement; he bends down on the 

 perch in the attitude of a fighting cock, his widely open bill showing distinctly 



