37 [Vol. xxiii. 



the ground. A living example of this bird was brought home 

 and has become very tame. The food is thrown up and jerked 

 to the back of the throat, after the manner of a Toucan. 



" Lophorina minor appears to nest in April, as a pair of 

 birds of that species were constantly seen carrying nesting- 

 materials past the camp, but the nature of the mountains 

 did not permit of my following them up to their nesting- 

 site. These birds have no regular dancing-places, but go 

 through their display high up in the forest - trees, and 

 hanging, for choice, from a vine, where the sunlight strikes 

 on them, form a wonderful picture. The discordant noise 

 made during their gymnastics could be heard at a very long 

 distance. This species appears to be chiefly insectivorous, and 

 a living example, which was brought home, is still doing well. 



" Parotia laivisi dances very low down near the ground, 

 generally on vines or rattans which trail along the floor of 

 the forest. During the display curious snake-like movements 

 are made with the neck. At one dancing-place twenty or 

 thirty birds were seen at one time during the month of May. 



" Diphyllodes hunsteini also dances low down, choosing a 

 slender tree about 7 ft. high from which every leaf is stripped. 

 The ground too, for a considerable circumference around, 

 is kept carefully cleared of all leaves and debris. Each 

 dancing-place appears to be used by one pair of birds only. 

 Although this is a numerous species, it is the one that is 

 least seen, as the birds keep entirely to the tliick cover. 

 They have an exceedingly loud and harsh call, which is often 

 heard. 



'* Paradisea rayyiana, like the other members of this genus, 

 chooses a high tree for its display; the dancing-season does 

 not commence much before April, and the birds are then to 

 be found there regularly for a short time at 7 a.m., and again 

 for a considerable time at 2 p.m. One habit of this bird has 

 not been noted in the other species — a backward, jerky move- 

 ment along the branches ; also, perhaps, the curious way in 

 which the female birds thread in and out along tlie branch 

 under the depressed tail of the male, reminding one of the 

 * ladies' chain ' in a quadrille. Nesting commences in April, 



