XX NEW GUINEA AND ITS INHABITANTS 423 



partially supported by the dilated skin between the out- 

 stretched limbs, and the broad tail. According to Mr. 

 Semon it feeds on ants and other insects. 



Another considerably smaller animal belonging to the 

 same family is also figured (p. 422), and well shows the 

 large grasping feet and hands characteristic of so many of 

 the arboreal marsupials and seen also in the American 

 opossums. Mr. Richard Semon, to whom I am indebted 

 for the use of these two figures, had this creature alive for 

 a few days, but found it to be very fierce and intractable. 

 A curious form of the lowest known mammals, allied to 

 the Echidna of Australia is also found in New Guinea. 



Pcqman Birds. 



The birds, like the mammalia are mostly of Australian 

 types, but nevertheless present many peculiarities. Most 

 celebrated of all are the Birds of Paradise, forming a dis- 

 tinct family, containing more than twenty-five different 

 species, all confined to this island and the immediately 

 surrounding lands. These singular birds are really allied 

 to our crows and magpies, but are remarkable for their 

 special and varied developments of plumage. In most 

 cases tufts of feathers spring from the sides of the body or 

 breast, forming fans, or shields, or long airy plumes of 

 extreme beauty. Others have glossy mantles or arched 

 shields over the back, strange crests on the head, or long 

 and wire-like tail feathers. These varied appendages 

 exhibit corresponding varieties of colour. The long trains 

 of waving plumes are golden yellow or rich crimson, the 

 breast-shields, mantles, and crests, are often of the most 

 intense metallic blue or green, while the general body 

 plumage is either a rich chocolate brown or deep velvety 

 black. The magnificent twelve-^vired Bird of Paradise is 

 figured in the upper part of the plate on p. 424. The 

 breast and upper-surface are nearly black, but in certain 

 lights rich tints of purple or green become visible. The 

 top of the head is velvety and of a purplish bronze, the 

 back and shoulders a bronzy green, while the closed wings 

 and tail are of the most brilliant violet purple, and all of 

 an exquisite silky gloss. The mass of broad plumes on 



