A IsTEW BIED OF PAEADISE. 



By EOLLA P. CURRIE, B. A. 



In looking over the Mnsenm series of Paradiseidne, Mr. J. H. Fleming^ 

 of Toronto, who has made a study of this family, noticed a specimen of 

 Cicinnurus which, as he pointed out, differs from the King Bird of 

 Paradise, Gicinnurus regius (Linnfieus), in several important i')artic- 

 ulars. Through the kindness of Mr. Robert Ridgway, Curator of the 

 Division of Birds, I am enabled to present a description of this beautiful 

 species, which I propose to call the Crimson Bird of Paradise. 



CICINNURUS LYOGYRUS,' new species. 



Specific cliaracters. — Differs from C. regius (Linufeus) in having the 

 pectoral shield nearly four times as long as in the latter, almost as long- 

 as broad; frontal plumes shorter, not projecting forward beyond 

 middle of bill and not obscuring contour of skull; tail emarginate 

 instead of rounded; outer web at end of central tail-shafts only two- 

 thirds as wide near base, the width uniform for the greater portion of 

 its length, instead of narrowing rapidly to tip, much more loosely 

 coiled, the apical portion of naked, crossed tail-shafts divergent instead 

 of convergent. The crimson of back is darker, crown and forehead 

 orange-vermilion instead of orange-chrome; pectoral tufts darker and 

 subterminal buff" line on each plume much narrower, darker, and less 

 conspicuous; pectoral shield, except a narrow edging on lower border, 

 and tips of central tail-feathers grass-green instead of emerald-green, 

 and tips of pectoral plumes yellowish emerald-green instead of gold- 

 green. The primaries are also a duller orange-rufous. 



Description. — Above glossy crimson, darker than in G. regius^ the 

 head pale orange- vermilion; feathers of the crown and forehead short, 

 not obscuring the contour of the skull, the frontal feathers not extend- 

 ing forward beyond middle of bill; a dark green, almost black, spot 

 above and bordering tiie eye. Throat, and sides of head and neck, 

 dull crimson with purplish reflections, the feathers on lower border of 

 throat narrowly tipped with buff', forming a convex line; fore neck and 

 ujjper breast with a broad shield of metallic grass-green Q>o millimeters 

 in length, the feathers of lower border narrowly tipped with metallic 



^Xvoo, I loose; yvpoc,, whorl, referring to the tips of central tail-shafts. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXII, No. 1204. 

 Proc. ^. M. vol. xxii 32 497 



