^4 



its leader, whose royal mandates were received with 

 submissive obedience by a numerous train of subjects ; 

 that his majesty always^ flew above the flock, and 

 issued orders for inspecting and tasting the springs, 

 where they might drink with safety. It inhabits the 

 islands of the Indian Ocean, and returns to New Gui- 

 nea in the rainy season ; feeds on berries, is a solitary 

 bird, and is highly valued on account of its rarity 

 and beauty of plumage. 



Black-bodied Bird of Paradise. 



This beautiful and uncommon bird, which does 

 not appear to have been seen by any English writer, 

 is, like the others, a native of the Molucca Islands, 

 but is a rarity even in that country ; the plumes 

 being worn only by persons of the first rank ; the 

 whole of the head, neck, body, and tail, is a 

 fine black, with a velvet-like gloss, the latter 

 changing in some lights to a rich purple. The bill 

 is long, black, and somewhat hooked ; the feathers 

 under the lower mandible reaching a considerable 

 part of its length : from the back of the neck rises 

 a divided tuft of long, thick, close-set black feathers, 

 edged with resplendent emerald green j from the 

 sides of the body and wings rise two tufts of long 

 delicate silky feathers, as in the common Bird of Pa- 

 radise, only smaller, six on each side of which have 

 strong black wire-like terminations about nine inches 

 long, destitute of every appearance of feathers. 



Blue Green Bird of Paradise (Paradisea Viridis). 



Golden Bird of Paradise (Latham's Synopsis, vol. 

 1, page 483). 



Superb Bird of Paradise (Paradisea Superba). 



Pair of Birds of Paradise, undescribed. 



