C 9 5 HOOPOE. 



colour of all of them is blue black, with a polifhed fteel g!of& 

 in fome lights : the legs are black. 

 Observations. Such is the defcription of a fpecimen in the poffeflion of Mifs 

 Blomefield, of which I have hazarded the pofition of the feathers, 

 as reprefented in the adjoining plate. The bird, on her firft re- 

 ceipt of it, had been manifestly diftorted to a great degree, almoft 

 every feather being twirled out of its place; though the bird itfelf 

 was more perfect than that mentioned by Sonnerat, or the one figured 

 in the Planches eluminees, neither of thefe having any of the tufted 

 feathers, which, in the adjoining plate, hang over the thighs. 

 Sonnerat, indeed, talks of two fets of feathers, one that takes rife 

 above the wings, and the other from beneath them ; but does not 

 mention theloofe herring-bone onesfo confpicuous in the bird which 

 I have defcribed from : and the Planches enluminees is deftitute 

 both of the laft, as well as thofe which hang on each fide of the 

 tail. It is to be hoped that future connoiffeurs in matters of this 

 kind wilT not omit fetting us to rights, whenever it may be their 

 good fortune to meet with this bird alive ;- for in this, as 

 well as the whole of the Paradife Birds, conjecture muft fupply 

 fbme defects ; as the natives act with this fpecies as with thofe, by 

 throwing away what by them are efteemed the ufelefs parts, and 

 fo tranfpofing the feveral remaining ones, as to make the beautiful 

 remnant appear to the beft advantage, as a mere ornament, for as 

 fuch only it is valued by them. 

 Plaou. This fpecies inhabits New Guinea.. 



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