22



On the King Bird of Paradise.



Not an easy task as, of all birds I have ever kept, these are the

most difficult and yet the most interesting to study. I do not

think I need describe them, the beautiful plate gives a splendid

idea of the beauty of the bird ; but of one thing there is no doubt

no pen could describe, no artist paint, the marvellous glea?n on

the red feathers of the King Bird of Paradise. The feathers are

more like hairs, a gleaming shining crimson, shading to orange

plush on the top of the head.


The cock in the aviary is exceedingly shy. Now and

again he can be seen in the thick bushes, in the outside flight of

the aviary, and then it is a pleasure to watch the quick dancing

movements, up a slender bough, springing from side to side or

hanging head downwards, eagerly scanning the long grass in

search of insects. The instant he realises he is being watched

there is a flash of crimson and he is gone—to the dark, quiet fir

boughs thickly placed at the top of his aviary.


The hen is a most entrancing little bird, very lively and

comparatively tame. She has the same quick dainty movements

as the cock, but does not in the least mind being watched.


These birds when they were first imported arrived in fairs,

or so-called pairs. I quite realised that the young cock does not

assume the red plumage for some time (I believe three years), so

it was not a matter of great surprise to me when, in the following

spring after their importation, one of my hens turned into acock.

Since then another hen has assumed the red plumage, and as I

was unable to keep so many cocks, I sold them, and at intervals

have heard of them at various great birds shows, causing much

admiration and interest.


If now I was asked to choose a hen King bird from amongst

several apparent hens, I should choose a small bird, not very

clearly marked and not a very yellow bill. Both my hen birds,

who eventually became cocks, were fine bold birds, large, and I

should have said particularly fine hens. The immature cock is

not shy, only when he assumes his very brilliant plumage does he

become so, a wonderful instinct, and a great protection against

birds of prey, etc.


These birds have many and varied calls. I thought I knew

them all—from the gurgling little song to the long clear call—



