ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
remoyal saved her life. This strange vagary of 
temperament is common among the birds of 
paradise, and was in accord with our expecta- 
tions. 
The comparatively short side plumes of the 
male had now reached their full length, and 
appeared as brilliant blue beneath, and delicate 
mauve above. The two central tail feathers or 
“wires” had grown to a length of a foot or more, 
each bearing on its tip a spatula of brilliant 
blue. While the bird was unquestionably hand- 
some, his colors were not so startling as we had 
hoped they would be, and our disappointment in 
the bird’s final appearance was marked. 
Then, one morning a keeper who was work- 
ing nearby noticed that the male bird was hang- 
ing upside-down from his perch, and otherwise 
conducting himself strangely. He promptly 
reported that the bird was in convulsions, and 
advocated its immediate removal to the hospital, 
for treatment. But more deliberate observation 
showed that while the bird’s antics might prop- 
erly be described as a convulsion, it evidently 
was not of the sort that calls for medical aid. 
He was in full display, such as perhaps had 
never before been seen by civilized men. 
The Blue Bird of Paradise rarely has been 
figured. Even in museum collections, it is not 
a common species, though mounted specimens 
are occasionally found. Since all birds of this 
group are far more beautiful in display than 
when in tranquil mood, they usually are drawn 
or mounted in this position. Lacking knowl- 
edge of particulars, it is not strange that artists 
and preparateurs should be drawn into error by 
comparison with related species of known habits. 
Invariably, they have presented the bird with 
wings spread and plumes raised above the back, 
after the fashion of the Paradisea group ! 
The display of this species, as revealed by 
our splendid specimen, is sharply contrasted 
with the conventional exhibit. Instead of 
remaining in an active, upright position, he 
grasps his perch firmly with his powerful feet 
and, with legs extended to the utmost, hangs 
head downward. During the entire display 
period of several minutes, the position of the 
feet is never changed, and the firm grip never is 
relaxed, 
Viewed from the front, the plumes, incon- 
spicuous and rather disappointing when at rest, 
form a brilliant, inverted triangle, with the 
raised feathers of the abdomen completing the 
center. In the middle appears a longitudinal, 
ovate patch of velvet black, bordered above by 
a narrow band of dull red, formed by the 
feathers that ordinarily clothe the abdomen. 
113 
The long, pendant “wires” rise to half their 
length, then droop gracefully downward on 
either side. The wings are held tightly closed 
and the head is turned upward. 
During the display, the body is moved for- 
ward and back, with the hips as a fulerum, and 
with a violent motion of the body the plum- 
age is frequently spread to its widest expanse. 
The white lines of feathers which border the 
eye above and below, are conspicuously ex- 
tended, leaving the bird only a narrow slit 
through which to peer at the observer. Through- 
out, the bird sings softly, in a low, grating 
voice, moving his head slightly by sharp jerks. 
This habit of singing, in which the Blue Bird 
of Paradise often indulges when not in full 
display, seems peculiar to this species. 
Taken altogether, the display of this bird is a 
beautiful and marvellous sight. The rapid 
vibration of the body causes the brilliant blues 
of his plumage to run in waves of color over 
the entire filmy triangle. The dead black spot 
in the center is made more conspicuous by the 
contrasting color about it and when seen under 
certain lights, appears more like a deep cavity 
than a mere patch of plumage. 
As far as we have been able to determine but 
three living Blue Birds of Paradise besides our 
own ever have reached Europe or America. The 
first of these. an immature male, brought to 
England by collectors in the employ of Sir 
William Ingram in 1907, was the subject of an 
article written by the owner for The Avicultural 
Magazine, from which the following is quoted: 
oa when he flew from his perch to the 
ground, the magnificence of his azure blue plum- 
age was most conspicuous; the sheen of the 
feathers on his back was like spun glass, glis- 
tening like the ripples ef the waters of the blue 
Mediterranean sea. . . . It must be a won- 
derful and entrancing sight to see the rudolphi 
displaying with his full plumage in the sunlight 
amidst the foliage of his dancing tree. . . . I 
very much doubt if we shall ever see his like 
again. but, as long as I live I shall 
always think of what might have been had my 
bird lived to renew his plumage and to give an 
exhibition of his display.” 
The sight for which Sir William Ingram ex- 
presses so much feeling is now seen daily by 
many among our throngs of visitors and not all 
are lacking in appreciation of its wonder. 
Boswell’s original proof sheets for his “Life 
of Dr. Johnson,” with corrections marked, have 
just sold for $2,200. Nowadays the printers 
charge more than that for correcting anybody's 
prooft.—Sun-Herald. 
