5i6 



The Living Animals of the World 



resemhlino- velvet. The tliroat-featliers liave a scaly appearance, and are emerald-green in colour. 

 The flank-featliers on eitlicr siile of tlie hody form a dense mass of long, delicate, waving 

 plumes, sometimes 2 feet in lengtli, of an intense orange colour, and shining with a wonderful 

 gloss. These feathers can be raised and spread out at pleasure, so as to almost conceal the 

 wearer in a fountain-like rain of feathers. This wonderful plumage is worn by the male only, 

 the female being cpiite plainly dressed. In May, when tliey are in full dress, the males 



Photo h« C. Rch.l] 



{WislMii:, jS.li. 



A P.\IR or MAGI'lES. 

 Wlicn taken }ni]ng, the ni.i^pie ia e;isily t;uiieil, and can be taii^bt tn imitate tiuriian sounds 



assemble early in the morning to exhibit themselves, forming what are known as '•dancing- 

 parties." which take place on the topmost boughs of some giant tree. "From a dozen to twenty 

 birds assemble together," writes Mr. Alfred liussel Wallace, "raise up their wings, stretch out 

 tlieir necks, and elevate their exquisite plumes, kee2)ing them in continual vibration, Eetween- 

 whiles they fly across from branch to Ijranch in great excitement, so that the whole tree is 

 filled with wa\ing plumes in every variety of attitude and motion." The native hunter marks 

 these playing-places, builds a shelter of 2)alm-leaves in a convenient situation among the branches, 

 and ensconces himself under it before daylight, armed with a bow and a number of arrows 

 terminating in a nnmd knoli. When the dance is in full swing, he shoots through the roof of 

 his shelter with the Itlunt arrows, stunning every bird he strikes, which, falling down at once, 

 are immediately picked up by a boy in waiting below. Often a consideiable number will be 

 thus secured before the alarm is taken. 



^^'ithout coloured figures, or very numerous photographs from living birds, which we 

 can hardly hope to get, it would be impossible, except at the risk of being wearisome, to 

 descril)e all tlie wonderful comliinations of form and colour which the feathers of the birds of 

 paradise display. Ijrea.st-sluelds of metallic sheen, fans and crests in wonderful variety, feathers 

 of a texture like velvet, or gorgeous colours, confuse one in their variety and coml.iiuation. 



