292 Birds of Pa 7 adise at the Zoological Gardens.


BIRDS OF PARADISE AT THE ZOOLOGICAL


GARDENS.


The most wonderful collection of living Birds of Paradise

that has ever been got together is now on view at the London

Zoological Gardens, no less than ten species being represented.

The Greater (. Paradisea apoda'). Lesser (P. minor'). Red (P. rubra),

Twelve-wired ( Seleucides alba) and King-birds of Paradise ( Cicin -

nurus regius) have been some time in the Gardens, and on June

30th a new collection from New Guinea arrived, containing five

other species, four of which are now exhibited for the first time.


Mr. C. B. Horsbrugli sailed for New Guinea in December

last, on behalf of the Zoological Society and Sir William Ingram,

his object being to obtain living Birds of Paradise. Considering

the great difficulties inseparable from such an undertaking Mr.

Horsbrugli deserves the hearty congratulation of aviculturists on

the success of his expedition, he has safely brought home the

following birds :—Several specimens of Count Raggi’s Birds of

Paradise ( Paradisea raggiana), one of the finest of the genus to

which it belongs, being not unlike the Great Bird (/°. apoda) but

with red plumes instead of yellow ; eight examples of the Mag¬

nificent Bird of Paradise (. Diphyllodes speciosa), one of the most

extravagantly decorated of birds; one New Guinea Rifle-bird

(Ptilorhis magnificat) perhaps the most beautiful of any, of a

velvety black colour with metallic reflections and a pectoral

shield of brilliant shining green. The Six-plumed Bird of

Paradise ( Paiotia sexpennis) is represented by seven specimens,

all in good condition, but none at present showing the character¬

istic plumes, three of which grow from each side of the head.

There are also some four or five Mauucodes ( Maiiucodia chalybeia ),

two Gardener Bower Birds ( Amblyornis subalaris), three New

Guinea Cat-Birds (. Aelurcedus melanocephalus), one Red-breasted

Lory ( Lorius erythrothorax) and some Fruit Pigeons. The

majority of these birds are imported for the first time.


D. S.-S.



