406 



THE BIRDS OF PARADISE. [ch. xxxvui. 



ally, tlie " Magnificent," is at least equally plain in tliis 

 sex, of which specimens have not yet been obtained. 



The Superb Bird of Paradise was first figured by 

 Buffon, and was named by Boddaert, Paradisea atra, from 



THE SUPERB BIRD OF PAKADISE. (Llipllori lia Utra.) 



the black ground colour of its plumage. It forms the 

 genus Lophorina of Viellot, and is one of the rarest and 

 most brilliant of the whole group, being only known from 

 mutilated native skins. Tliis bird is a little larger than 

 the Magnificent. The ground colour of the plumage is 

 intense black, but with beautiful bronze reflections on the 

 neck, and the whole head scaled with feathers of brilliant 



