AN ESSAY ON INDIA, 



VI. 



N 1689, a new fpecies of black Paradife-bird was firfl: feen at 

 Amboyna, brought from MtJJowal^ about a foot in length, with 

 a fhining purplifli hue. Head, middle-fized ; bill, ftraightj 

 back, as in the other fpecies, adorned with purple-blue feathers, 

 but under the wings, and on the belly, yellowifh, as in the 

 apodous fpecies. Back of the neck, moufe-colored, greenifti. 

 In this kind it is obfervable, that on the fcapulae are bundles of 

 green-edged feathers, which can be erecSted at pleafure, like wings. 

 In place of a tail, it has twelve black, naked, fetaceous and 

 thready fhafts, like pendulous feathers. Feet ftrong, with fharp 

 daws. Head fmall ; eyes encircled with black. 



VII. Paradisea regia. King. Latham Syn. ii. 475. 

 Index, i. -194. 



ip H E lafb fpecies is the King-bird, which fome reckon among 

 the Faradije -birds ; but, according to Valentyae, it is totally 

 different from them. LiNN^gius and Buffon, however, refer 

 them to the Paradife-birds, chiefly induced by the fhape of the 

 bill, and the feathers peculiar to this genus. This bird is about 

 feven inches in length, and fomewhat exceeds a titmoufe In bulk. 

 Head, and eyes (which are furrounded with a black circle) frnall. 

 Beak, ftraight. Crown of the head, flame-colored : nape of 

 the neck, blood-colored : neck and breafl;, chefnut, with a band 

 of bright emerald. Wings, large for the body ; quill-feathers 

 black, with rays Ipotted and flrreaked v.rith fhining red. ' Tail, 

 ftraight, fiiort, and brown. Intermediate tail-feathers, long, 



thread- 



