146 THE TWELVE-THREAD EPIMACHUS. 



that inhabit the face of the earth. Altliough in the size of the body it is by no means large, 

 its ijlumage is so wonderfully developed, that the bird measures nearly four feet from the 

 jjouit of the bill to the extremity of the tail. 



"To add to the singularity of this bird," says Lesson, whose description is too vivid and 

 life-like to be neglected, " Nature has placed above and below its wings feathers of an extraor- 

 dinary form, and such as one does not see in other birds ; she seems, moreover, to have pleased 

 herself in painting this being, already so singular, with her most bxllliant colors. The head, 

 the neck, and the belly are glittering green : the feathers which cover these parts possess the 

 lustre and softness of velvet to the eye and touch ; the back is cliangeable violet ; the wings are 

 of the same color, and appear, according to the lights in which they are held, blue, violet, or 

 deep black ; always, however, imitating velvet. The tail is composed of twelve feathers ; the 

 two middle feathers are the longest, and the lateral feathers gradually diminish ; it is violet or 

 changeable blue above, and black beneath. The feathers which compose it are as wide in pro- 

 portion as they are long, and shine both above and below ^\ath the brilliancy of polished metal. 



" Above the wings the scapularies are very long and singularly fonned ; their points being 

 very short on one side, and very long on the other. These feathers are of the color of polished 

 steel, changing into blue, terminated by a large spot of brilliant green, and forming a species 

 of tuft or appendage at the margin of the wings. Below the wdngs spring long curved feathers, 

 directed upwards ; these are black on the inside, and brilliant green on the outside. The bill 

 and feet are black." 



The same author, in referring to the brilliant metallic hues of this and other birds, takes 

 occasion to notice the iridescent eifect which is produced by the different angle at which light 

 falls on the feathers. The emerald green, for instance, will often fling out rays of its two 

 constituent primary colors, at one time being blue-green, at another gold-green, while in cer- 

 tain lights all color vanishes, and a velvet-black is presented to the eye. The ruby feathers of 

 several birds become orange under certain lights, and darken to a crimson-black at other times. 

 This change of hue is analogoiis to the well-known iridescent changeableness of the nacre 

 which lines various shells, and is owing to the structure of its surface refracting the light in 

 different I'ays according to the angle at which it falls upon the feathers. 



The adult male Twelve-thread Plume Bird jjresents so strong a resemblance to the 

 birds of paradise that it might easily be mistaken for one of those gorgeous creatures, than 

 wliich, indeed, it is scarcely less splendid. JSTot only does its plumage glow with all the 

 resplendency of brilliant emerald-green and velvety violet-black, but the bird is also provided 

 with a number of long thread-like plumes, which are very similar to those of the paradise 

 birds. Like the preceding species, it is a native of New Guinea, and is, if possible, even a 

 more beautiful creature ; the white floating plumes compensating for the absence of the 

 extremely lengthened tail. 



The general color of the Twelve-thread Plume Bird is rich violet, so intense as to become 

 black in some lights, and having always a velvet-like depth of tone. Around the neck is 

 placed a collar of glowing emerald-green feathers, which stand boldly from the neck, and pre- 

 sent a most V)riUiant contrast with the deep violet of the back and wings. The tail is short in 

 comparison with the dimensions of the bird. From the back and the rump spring a number 

 of long silken plumes of a snowy white color, and a loose downy structure that causes them to 

 wave gracefully in the air at the slightest breeze. Six of these lower plumes at each side are 

 furnished with long, black, thread-like prolongations of the shaft, a peculiarity which has 

 earned for the bird its title of Twelve-thread. 



Albino specimens of this bird have been found, in which the entire plumage was of the 

 same snowy -white as the downy plumes. 



In attempting to describe these gorgeously -decorated creatures, it is impossible to avoid a 

 feeling of dissatisfaction wlien mentally comparing the wondrous beauty of the beings under 

 consideration and the imperfect words in which the writer has endeavored to portray their 

 bpauties. Even with the assistance of color, any idea that can be given of these birds would 

 necessarily be very imperfect, and the most admirable illustrations that ever were drawn, rich 



