412 THE BIRDS OF PARADISE. [ch. xxxvtii. 



Twelve-wired Paradise Bird, Paradisea alba of Blumeubacli, 

 but now placed in the genus Seleiicides of Lesson. 



This bird is about twelve inches long, of which the com- 

 pressed and curved beak occupies two inches. The colour 

 of the breast and upper surface appears at first sight nearly 

 black, but a close examination shows that no part of it is 

 devoid of colour ; and by holding it in various lights, the 

 most rich and glowing tints become visible. The head, 

 covered with short velvety feathers, which advance on the 

 chin much further than on the upper part of the beak, is 

 of a purplish bronze colour ; the whole of the back and 

 shoulders is rich bronzy green, while the closed wings 

 and tail are of the most brilliant violet purple, all the 

 plumage having a delicate silky gloss. The mass of 

 feathers which cover the breast is really almost black, 

 with faint glosSes of green and purple, but their outer 

 edges are margined with glittering bands of emerald green. 

 The whole lower part of the body is rich buffy yellow, 

 including the tuft of plumes which spring from the sides, 

 and extend an inch and a half beyond the tail. When 

 skins are exposed to the light the yellow fades into dull 

 white, from which circumstance it derived its specific 

 name. About six of the innermost of these plumes on 

 each side have the midrib elongated into slender black 

 wires, which bend at right angles, and c^^rve somewhat 

 backwards to a length of about ten inches, forming one of 



