RAVENS. 247 



THE RUBY OR RED BIRD OF PARADISE. (See Coloured Plate VIII.) 

 The Ruby or Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra) is distinguished from the preceding 

 species by a golden green plume, with which the front of its head is decked. The back is russet 

 yellow, a streak of this colour passing like a broad band over the breast and under side of the body ; 

 the breast and the wings are reddish brown, the base of the beak and a patch behind the eyes are 

 velvety black ; the throat emerald green. The plumes upon the sides are of a magnificent red, each 

 feather terminating in a circular tip ; the tail-feathers have long shafts, which curl outwards ; the 

 eye is light yellow ; the back and feet greyish blue. In the female the forehead and throat are of 

 a rich brown ; the upper part of the body and belly reddish brown, the back of the head, throat, 

 and breast bright red. 



The Red Bird of Paradise is extremely rare, as it is only found, and that in small numbers, upon 

 the island of Waigiou. The three species we have mentioned closely resemble each other in their 

 habits : all are lively and intelligent, exhibiting (if we may so term it) a certain amount of coquetry in 

 the manner in which they display their glorious plumage. Travellers who have seen these splendid 

 creatures hovering in their native element speak with rapture of their beauty ; and Lesson tells us that 

 on one occasion he quite forgot to fire at a magnificent specimen as he watched his intended victim 

 float away — ■ 



" Upon its waving feathers poised in air — 



Feathers, or rather clouds of golden down, 



With streamers thrown luxuriantly out 



In all the wantonness of winged wealth." 



According to Rosenberg, the Birds of Paradise are migratory, living partly upon the coast and partly in 

 the interior of the country, which they visit as soon as the fruit is quite ripe. We have seen a flock of 

 these beautiful creatures winging their way to a tree, that after having been fired upon, returned almost 

 immediately to the same spot ; but this is by no means usual — on the contrary, as a rule they are 

 extremely shy, and very difficult to obtain with the gun. Their cry is hoarse, and often followed by a 

 scraping kind of sound ; it may be heard both in the morning and evening, but rarely during the day. 

 Lesson tells us that whilst creeping amongst the branches in search of the insects that constitute 

 their favourite food, they utter a soft clucking note, entirely unlike their call, which is only heard 

 when the bird is perched high upon the tops of the trees. During the entire day their graceful forms 

 may be seen flying incessantly from one tree to another, never remaining perched for more than a few 

 minutes upon the same branch, and concealing themselves among the foliage at the first suspicion of 

 danger. Before sunrise they are already on the alert, and busied in their search for the fruit and 

 insects upon which they subsist ; in the evening all the various members of the party congregate at the 

 summit of a high tree, where they pass the night. Lesson informs us that the Bird of Paradise is 

 often seen flying in parties of some forty or fifty, under the guidance of a leader, who soars considerably 

 above the flock he is conducting ; their cries as they struggle with the wind are not unlike those of the 

 Starling ; when much incommoded by a strong breeze their note resembles the call of the Raven. 

 Should a storm arise, they will at once soar high into the air, as though to escape the power of the 

 blast ; but in spite of all their efforts they are often rendered completely helpless, as the wind blows 

 aside and entangles their long tails and waving plumes, and not unfrequently forces them to fall 

 heavily to the earth, or into the sea; many are thus drowned, and others are obliged to lie upon the 

 ground until they have recovered sufficiently from the shock to arrange their disordered and matted 

 feathers. On the eastern and northern coast of North Guinea and in Meisol, the breeding season 

 commences in May, but upon the western coast and in Salawati the eggs are not laid till November, 



