200 PARADISE BIRD. 



length with the tail, which, however, is never visible, unless the bird 

 expands the wings, and the tufts are erected ; the legs are stout, and 

 horn-coloured. 



According to Dr. Forster, this bird is said to have been brought 

 into Amboina, from Missowal, in 1689 ; and much the same account 

 is given by M. Audibert, in his Ois. de Paradis. We learn, however, 

 that the same species inhabits the Molucca Islands, and Amboina, 

 being there called the Leader of the Birds of Paradise. 



We have, many years since, taken a description from one in the 

 collection of the late Lady Wilson ; and again from one in the 

 possession of Sir J. Anstruther, Bart, and fine specimens were also 

 in the collection of Mr. Bullock. In one the black, wire-like ap- 

 pendages are perfect, in another none are visible, except a single 

 short one, as fine as a hair. This may probably differ from sex. I 

 observe, too, that in the one having the wiry shafts complete, the tail 

 is absolutely black ; but in that without these additions, it is fine, 

 glossy gilded purple. 



A.—Wayghihu, Lid. Orn. i. 197. 0. Lid. Zool. 23. V. 0. Gerin. t. 65. f. 1 ? 



In this bird the fore parts are black, the hinder white, with twelve 

 slender, crooked, almost naked feathers; this is the whole description. 



It is said to inhabit Wayghihu, one of the Papuan Islands, little 

 frequented, to be the rarest of all the species, and procured through 

 the people of Tidore. Dr. Forster makes it a Variety of the White, 

 or following, but from its having twelve shafts, we rather think it 

 more proper to be placed here. 



