i8 AN ESS AY ON INDIA, 



5. The white Paradije-bird. 



6. The unknown ParadiJe-bird. 



7. The leffer King-hirdy which is alfo to be reckoned among 

 the Paradije-birds. 



I. Paradis^a apoda. Greater Bird of Paradise. 

 Latham Syn. ii. 474. Index, i. 194. 



np H E greater Paradije-hird is generally about two feet in length. 

 Head, fmall: beak, .the length of the head, hard, pale-co- 

 loured. Head and nape of the neck, yellow. Space round the 

 eyes, black. Neck, beautifully refplendent with very foft, fhining, 

 emerald-coloured feathers : thofe of the breaft, equally foft, of a 

 pale yellowifh-grey. Large chefnut-coloured wings. Back co- 

 vered with die fcapulars elongated, lliff, narrow, pale brown, 

 very much refembling the loofe feathers of the oftrich. Thefe 

 expand while the bird flies ; and therefore it is eafy for him to 

 remain in the air. On the fides of the breaft and belly are 

 bundles of feathers, much fhorter than the anterior ones, ftift^ 

 gold-coloured. From the rump arife two ftiff feathers of great 

 length, naked in the fhafts, terminated with radiated plumes. 

 Several birds of thefe countries are furnifhed with fuch long 

 feathers, as the Belurus (Pylftaart) 0I Amboyna., the Alcedo Sari- 

 wak, and a fpecies of Pa])uaii parroquet. In fize it little exceeds 

 the blackbird. Feet fhort, with four ftrong toes. The inhabi-. 

 tants of 'Ternate call this Ipecies Burong Papua, Papua birds ; and 

 fometimes Manu-co-dewata, and alfo Soffu, or Sioffu. The Am- 

 hoyneje call them Manu-key-aru, birds of the iflands Key and ArUy 



becaule 



