PTILORIS PARADISEUS. 



the breast, where it is broadest, and runs off at each side in two narrow 

 points, thus giving the base of the triangle the shape of an inverted cres- 

 cent. This space is composed of the same scaly kind of feathers with 

 those on the crown, and is of the same fine metallic green, varying to 

 shades of blue and violet according to the light. The breast is of the 

 richest carmine, glossed with violet and blue, but in some lights appears 

 deep black : the feathers composing this part are exceedingly close in tex- 

 ture, and both to the sight and touch resemble velvet. On the lower part 

 of the breast and belly the feathers are of the same colour and texture, 

 with the exception of the edges of each, forming a fine blackish-green mar- 

 gin, with yellowish reflections : the margin round each is very narrow on 

 the lower part of the breast, but nearly extends over the half of those on 

 the belly and vent, making those parts appear almost entirely of the black- 

 ish-green colour. This part of the feather is of a loose and rather downy 

 texture. The wings are short and rounded, but apparently of great power, 

 owing to the great breadth of the quills and secondaries. The quills are 

 black ; the secondaries but glossed with purple, and are nearly equal 

 to the true quills in length. The tail is short and even, and is of the 

 same colour with the upper parts, except the two centre feathers, which 

 are about half an inch shorter, and of a fine metallic green. In both 

 the tail-feathers and secondaries, the shafts are produced a short way be- 

 yond the webs. The legs are short and strong, and the hallux and hind 

 claw remarkably so, as in all the Melliphagidte. In the female we find the 

 same colours (shades of brown and yellowish-white) prevailing as in the 

 young and same sex of several of the bright coloured birds of New Hol- 

 land, the Sericulus and Ptilonorhynchus, forming a marked contrast with the 

 splendid colouring of the males. The general colour of the upper parts of 

 the female of our species is a greenish wood-brown. From the upper part 

 of the eye a white streak extends for nearly an inch upon the side of the 

 neck. The feathers forming the wings are not so broad and rounded as 

 in the male, and the edges of the quills and secondaries are light chesnut- 

 red. The tail is the same colour with the upper parts, paler underneath, 

 and the two centre feathers are equal in length with the others. The un- 

 der parts are entirely yellowish-white, on the throat nearly pure white, 

 each feather on the breast is marked with an oval line or black ring round 

 the feather, about one-eighth of an inch from the edge. On the belly and 

 vent they are barred with the same colour. 



Our figures represent the natural size of the species. 



