CHAP. XXXI.] GREAT BIRD OF PARADISE. 2o3 



in every variety of attitude and motion. (See Frontispiece.) 

 The bird itself is nearly as large as a crow, and is of a rich 

 coffee brown colour. The head and neck is of a pure straw 

 yellow above, and rich metallic green beneath. The long 

 plumy tufts of golden orange feathers spring from the sides 

 beneath each wing, and when the bird is in repose are 

 partly concealed by them. At the time of its excitement, 

 however, the wings are raised vertically over the back, the 

 head is bent down and stretched out, and the long plumes 

 are raised up and expanded till they form two magnificent 

 golden fans, striped with deep red at the base, and fading 

 off into the pale brown tint of the finely divided and softly 

 waving points. The whole bird is then overshadowed by 

 them, the crouching body, yellow head, and emerald green 

 throat forming but the foundation and setting to the golden 

 glory which waves above. When seen in this attitude, the 

 Bird of Paradise really deserves its name, and must be 

 ranked as one of the most beautiful and most wonderful of 

 living things. I continued also to get specimens of the 

 lovely little king-bird occasionally, as well as numbers of 

 brilliant pigeons, sweet little parroquets, and many curious 

 small birds, most nearly resembling those of Australia and 

 New Guinea. 



Here, as among most savage people I have dwelt among, 

 I was delighted with the beauty of the human form — a 



