282 The Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise.


Another interesting fact is not generally known: the lovely

violet colour of the icings appears by a gradual change in the feather

and not by a moult. Thus the colour change is strictly comparable

to that of Bishop Birds and Whydahs, where one can trace the

gradual darkening of an individual feather from day to day. The

feather is, indeed, a living entity, an organism to itself—unlike a

claw, which is merely so much horn. A microscopical examination

of a bleached plume of this Paradise Bird would probably show that

the loss of colour is due to the formation of small air cavities, the

air, so to speak, replacing the imperfectly formed pigment in the

finer structure of the feather. At any rate, such changes are known

to take place in the human subject, and thus produce the silvery

appearance of white hair.


Perhaps the first aviculturist to keep the Twelve-wired Bird

of Paradise was Mr. A. A. Bruijn; writing to Dr. Sclater in 1874 he

stated that in his aviary he had four species of Paradise Birds,

including the present one. This was in the East Indies ; next came

Mr. van Bruijn Morris, who in 1883 had a large collection of Papuan

birds, including two full-plumaged males of the Twelve-wired species.

These did very well in confinement, and their brilliant coloration has

already been alluded to.


In Europe the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise has always been

very rare—in fact, practically unknown to aviculture. The first one

seen in Europe was probably Signor G. E. Serruti’s bird; this the

owner presented to the King of Italy, who kept it alive for several

months. On March 19th, 1881, Mr. Win. Jamrach deposited in the

Zoo three Paradise Birds—all species of great interest—namely, one

Twelve-wired and one Eed, together with a Green Manucode. All

were healthy, but in rough condition ; the Twelve-wired lived till

February 8th, 1882, when he died of congestion of the lungs.


Lastly, a fine male example from Salwatti, purchased by the

Zoological Society on June 8th, 1907, adorned the small bird house

in the Gardens till his death in the spring of 1918. The writer

frequently studied this exquisite creature, and it was the greatest

possible pleasure to note his fine condition, amply testifying to the

care lavished upon him. veteran among Paradiseidce, to the writer

at any rate he showed no signs of age ; his demeanour was alert and



