CH. xxxviii.] THE SCALE-BREASTED. 417 



rich claret colour, deepening to black at the tail. The tufts 

 of side plumes somewhat resemble those of the true Birds 

 of Paradise, but are scanty, about as long as the tail, and of 

 a black colour. The sides of the head are rich violet, and 

 velvety feathers extend on each side of the beak over the 

 nostrils. 



I obtained at Dorey a young male of this bird, in a state 

 of plumage which is no doubt that of the adult female, as 

 is the case in all the allied species. The upper surface, 

 wings, and tail are rich reddish brown, while the under 

 surface is of a pale ashy colour, closely barred throughout 

 with narrow wavy black bands. There is also a pale 

 banded stripe over the eye, and a long dusky stripe from 

 the gape down each side of the neck. This bird is four- 

 teen inches long, whereas the native skins of the adult 

 male are only about ten inches, owing to the way in which 

 the tail is pushed in, so as to give as much prominence as 

 possible to the ornamental plumage of the breast. 



At Cape York, in North Australia, there is a closely 

 allied species, Ptiloris alberti, the female of which is very 

 similar to the young male bird here described. The beau- 

 tiful Kifle Birds of Australia, which much resemble these 

 Paradise Birds, are named Ptiloris paradiseus and Ptiloris 

 victories. The Scale-breasted Paradise Bird seems to be 

 confined to the maialand of New Guinea, and is less rare 

 than several of the other species. 

 VOL. II. E K 



