NOTES ON THE PLUMAGE-DISPLAY OF THl; BIRDS OF PARADISE IN TARONGA PARK. 207 



on some special feathers. The most active in this direction is the " Magnificent Bird of Paradise." 

 which works the breast and nape muscles so that the ornamental tufts are raised and depressed, 

 spread and contracted. As the feathers become fully developed, the birds keep more and more to 

 the shade and avoid sunlight ; this is specially noticeable in the case of the Rifle Birds, which rarely 

 leave cover. 



Count Raggi's Bird of Paradise. 



This bird takes a horizontal position on a bough and erects the side plumes over the back, 

 sometimes putting the head round and through the plumes. Its call note is peculiar, one cock bird 

 leading oft with three loud short notes, after which the others join in with a second note, which is 

 longer, loud and clear, and repeated several times ; the sound resembles " chuck, chuck, chuck — 

 wahoo, wahoo, wahoo." This is heard frequently throughout the day when the birds are in full 

 plumage. 



Rudolf Blue Bird of Paradise. 

 The male Blue Bird hangs head downward on a bough on which the hen is sitting, and extends 

 his side plumes while working the body with a rhythmical movement, and uttering a subdued croaking 

 in unison therewith. The hen has not been observed to take any notice of the charmer. 



Magnificent Bird of Paradise. 

 Though only a small species, the plumage-display of the male bird is elaborate and very frequently 

 performed. It consists of two distinct movements in which the appearance of the body is quite 

 altered. The ordinary pose of the bird is rather dumpy, with the head sunk into the trunk and the 

 beak pointing almost straight upward. The first change consists of erecting the yellow ciest on the 

 lower neck and depressing the breast and side plumes so that the bird looks long and thin and as if 

 wearing a full bottomed skirt. This posture is suddenly altered by depressing the neck crest and 

 extending the plumes on the cheeks, neck and breast laterally, so that the shape becomes oval ; the 

 mouth is opened and shows the shining green gape. 



Six-Wired Bird of Paradise. 

 This species acts in a somewhat similar way to the Bower Birds. It is fond of playing about on 

 the ground, and selects a position at the base of a shrub where it follows a beaten track, strutting 

 backwards and forwards and sometimes playing with a small stick ; it occasionally puffs out the 

 breast plumes laterally and erects the head plumes. This seems to be done more for amusement than 

 to charm the hen. 



King Bird of Paradise. 

 This beautiful species, the gem of the smaller kinds, is rather shy and does not like performing 

 in public ; so far the male has only been seen to erect and ruffle the breast plumes and to flutter his 

 scarlet wings. 



