166 cassell's book of birds. 



The PARADISE FLY CATCHERS, separated as a distinct group under the name of the 

 Terpsiphone, comprise the most beautiful and striking species of the family, and are distinguished by 

 the formation of their tail, which is very long and conical, the centre feathers in the male being 

 double the length of those at the exterior. 



THE PARADISE OR ROYAL FLY-SNAPPER. 



The Paradise or Royal Fly-snapper (TerpsipJmie paradised) is a magnificent species, two feet 

 in length, if we include the centre tail-feathers, which measure fifteen and sixteen inches, whilst those 

 at the side do not exceed five inches. The wing is four inches long. The coloration of the sexes 

 differs considerably — in the old male the head, crest, neck, and breast are of a greenish black ; the 

 rest of the feathers are white, streaked here and there with black upon the shafts ; the primary and 

 secondary quills are black, tipped with white upon the inner and entirely white upon the outer web. 

 The female, readily distinguished from her mate by the comparative shortness of the tail-feathers, is 

 like the young male, of a glossy black upon the head, neck, and breast, and white upon the belly ; the 

 rest of the plumage being entirely nut-brown. The nestlings are ash-grey upon the throat, breast, 

 sides, and upper part of the belly. All have deep brown eyes, bright blue beaks and eyelids, and 

 lavender - blue feet. The Royal Fly-snapper inhabits the whole of India, from Ceylon to the 

 Himalaya, where it is replaced by another species, and is usually found within the shelter of such 

 forests as are not more than 2,000 feet above the sea. According to Jerdon, it occasionally ventures 

 forth from its favourite retreats to investigate the surrounding country, but rarely makes its home 

 amongst the brushwood or trees upon the open plains. Its flight is undulatory in its commencement, 

 and very striking, owing to the strange effect presented by its long tail, as it waves and flutters 

 through the air. This flowing tail is raised and spread with every appearance of delighted vanity by 

 its", beautiful owner, as it perches quietly in the branches, and glances sharply around in order to 

 detect the approach of an insect, upon which it darts at once with great rapidity, and having secured 

 it, returns to its lurking-place. Almost the entire day is spent in restlessly flitting about from branch 

 to branch, and tree to tree, and constantly uttering its loud but not unpleasing cry. The nest is 

 formed of moss and fibres, lined with hair and wool. This magnificent bird is usually to be seen 

 perched upon a branch, and displaying to the utmost its beautiful plumage, as it alternately expands 

 and closes its graceful crest and tail, in evident appreciation and enjoyment of its own beauty. Its 

 flight, which is very rapid when occupied in chasing its rivals from the field, or pursuing its insect 

 prey, changes into a hovering motion if the bird is under no excitement, and merely wishes to fly to 

 a distant spot ; at such times few more attractive sights can be witnessed than it presents as it thus 

 slowly glides in a series of undulating lines through the air, its pure white tail upheld and streaming 

 behind in such a manner as to form a flowing train. These long tail-feathers are only retained during 

 the time that the bird wears its bridal attire, and are soon torn away by the foliage of the trees when 

 the period of incubation is over. Unlike most of its congeners, the Paradise Fly-snapper is endowed 

 with a gentle and sweet-toned cry. Le Vaillant describes a nest that he was informed had been built 

 by one of these birds as being horn-shaped, about eight inches long, and the broadest part two and 

 a half inches across. This little structure, which hung in the forked branches of the mimosa-tree, 

 was most carefully constructed of fibres woven together, so as in its texture to resemble haircloth. 

 The interior was without any warm lining. 



The FANTAILS (Rhipidurd) are a group of birds inhabiting Australia and the neighbouring 

 islands ; they are also occasionally to be met with in some parts of Asia. All the various species 

 have slender bodies, long wings, of which the fourth and fifth quills exceed the rest in length, and 



