1862.] AcauisiTioN of a pair of paradise birds. 123 



in the middle of the row are separated from the rest by a space 

 double the size of that which is between the other hooks (figs. 9, 



Jl 



10, 11); and if this is found to be in all the species, it is a distinction 

 easy to observe. 



April 8, 1862. 

 Dr. J. E. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. 



The Secretary announced the acquisition by the Society for their 

 Menagerie of a pair of living Paradise-birds \Paradisea papuana). 

 Mr. A. R. Wallace (the well-known traveller and naturalist, who 

 had been engaged these last eight years in exploring the more little- 

 known islands of the Indian Archipelago) had for some time held a 

 commission to obtain living Birds of Paradise for the Society. 

 But though Mr. Wallace had visited in person the islands inhabited 

 by several species of this magnificent group of birds, he had failed 

 in his eflForts to preserve the birds alive when captured, and had 

 given up all hopes of being successful in his object. A short 

 time before Christmas 1861, when in the interior of Sumatra, Mr. 

 Wallace had received information of two specimens of the Lesser 

 Birds of Paradise {Paradisea papuana) being alive in captivity at 

 Singapore. Mr. Wallace immediately proceeded to that place, pur- 

 chased the birds, which were then in the hands of a European mer- 

 chant, and left by the foUovring mail for England, arriving in safety 

 in London with his valuable burden on the 1st of the month. 



The two Paradise-birds had been lodged in the upper part of the 

 Zoological Society's old museum, a room having been fitted up for 

 their reception with a large cage of galvanized vrire, 20 feet long by 

 1 1 in width. As they were both males, it had been found necessary 

 to keep them apart, the sight of one another, or even of a Paradise- 

 bird's plume waved near them in the air, producing in them great 

 excitement. The cage had been, therefore, divided by a screen 

 which excluded the light, and the two birds placed in the separate 

 compartments. The remarkable side-plumes which ornament the 

 males of the true Varadisece when in full dress were as yet but par- 

 tially developed in these specimens, but in a few weeks, if the birds 

 continue to thrive, would probably attain their full dimensions. 



