408 



THE BIRDS OF PARADISE. [ch. xxxviii. 



and inconspicuous as in all the other species of this 

 family. 



The Golden, or Six-shafted Paradise Bird, is another 



rare species, first figured by Buffon, and never yet 



THE six-SHAFTEU BIRD OF PARADISE. (Parotla Sdxpennis.) 



obtained in perfect condition. It was named by Bod- 

 daert, Paradisea sexpennis, and forms the genus Parotia 

 of Viellot. This wonderful bird is about the size 

 of the female Paradisea rubra. The plumage appears 

 at first sight black, but it glows in certain lights 

 with bronze and deep purple. The throat and breast 

 are scaled with broad flat feathers of an intense golden 



