CH. XXXYIII. 



THE LONG-TAILED. 



415 



and purple, it resembles the Seleucides alba, but it bears a 



magnificent tail more than two feet long, glossed on the 



upper surface with the most intense opalescent blue. Its 



chief ornament, 



however, consists 



in the group of 



broad plumes 



which spring from 



the sides of the 



breast, and which 



are dilated at the 



extremity, and 



banded with the 



most vivid metallic 



blue and green. 



The bill is long 



and curved, and 



the feet black, and 



similar to those of the allied forms. The total length of 



this fine bird is between three and four feet. 



This splendid bird inhabits the mountains of New 

 Guinea, in the same district with the Superb and the Six- 

 shafted Paradise Birds, and I was informed is sometimes 

 found in the ranges near the- coast. I was several times 

 assured by different natives that this bird makes its nest in 

 a hole under ground, or under rocks, always choosing a 



TttE LONfi-TAILED BIRD OF PARADISE. 



(Eplmachus magnus.) 



