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Third Series— \J OL. III. — NO. 7. — A11 rights reserved .



M AY, 1912



HUNSTEIN’S BIRD OF PARADISE.


By E. J. Brook.


I obtained my Hunstein’s close on five years ago from an

importation brought over by Mr. Goodfellow for Mrs. Johnstone.


While these birds are amongst the most beautiful of the

Paradise birds in the matter of colouring, I cannot say that they

are particularly taking as aviary birds. The young Hunsteins are

lively enough while in their immature plumage, but when they

assume the adult feathering they become shy and sit like blocks

while anyone is watching them, or else they hide away in any

convenient bush. No doubt this is a provision of nature, and

instinct tells them that while they are in grey plumage they are

more or less inconspicuous and can move about freely, but when

they are in full colour their best means of remaining unseen is

to keep quite still and then their very colour is their safety,

resembling as it does the light and shade on the branches and

leaves of jungle growing beneath high timber. The shape of

these birds, too, is a protection to them, for when they are sitting

still, viewed from in front, they greatly resemble a heart-shaped

leaf, and the tail wires resemble tendrils.


I think the males get their full colour when about three

years old. I have not often seen the display owing to the shy¬

ness already mentioned, and I am not at all sure that I have

ever seen the full display. The most I have seen is the expansion

of the breast feathers sideways and upwards, as well as the

raising of the small yellow cape like a halo or rough.


The Hunstein has a harsh rough grating voice, but he very

rarely uses it, I think this species is rather impatient of change



