CH. XXXVIII.] CURIOUS APPENDAGES. 397 



in the tropical department of the Crystal Palace or the 

 Great Palm House at Kew, they would live in this country 

 for many years. 



The Eed Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra of Viellot), 

 though allied to the two birds already described, is much 

 more distinct from them, than they are from each other. 

 It is about the same size as Paradisea papuana (13 to l-i 

 inches long), but differs from it in many particulars. The 

 side plumes, instead of being yellow, are rich crimson, and 

 only extend about three or four inches beyond the end of 

 the tail; they are somewhat rigid, and the ends are curved 

 downwards and inwards, and are tipped with white. The 

 two middle tail feathers, instead of being simply elongated 

 and deprived of their webs, are transformed into stiff black 

 ribands, a quarter of an inch wide, but curved like a split 

 quill, and resembling thin half cylinders of horn or whale- 

 bone. When a dead bird is laid on its back, it is seen that 

 these ribands take a curve or set, which brings them 

 round so as to meet in a double circle on the neck of the 

 bird; but when they hang downwards, during life, they 

 assume a spiral t\\T.st, and form an exceedingly graceful 

 double curve. They are about twenty-two inches long, 

 and always attract attention as the most conspicuous and 

 extraordinary feature of the species. The rich metallic 

 green colour of the throat extends over the front half of 



