1895.] Birds of New Guinea. 7 
rubbed together.” The point of resemblance between the Pliloris 
and Epimachus is the long, curved beak. In other respects 
there is a marked contrast. The plumage in the former is 
mainly compact, and, divested of its glancing hues, is char- 
acterized by its simplicity. The tail too is not developed into 
a long or spreading train but is short, stout and square, serv- 
ing apparently the useful purpose of a prop or assistance to 
the bird as it climbs on branches of trees, for its likeness to the 
Creepers has already been pointed out, though its large size as- 
sorts oddly with their slender frames. It is, however, not en- 
tirely without side plumes, but these are thin and scant and 
reach underneath scarcely beyond the tail when the wings are 
closed. The croak of this bird is absolutely appalling in its 
loudness, volume and dissonance ; it may be heard halfa mile 
or more and when once heard is never forgotten. He is 
strangely local in his habitat and whatever spot he has appro- 
priated as his peculiar domain, he cannot be driven away 
from, nor does he endure a trespasser upon it. 
There are several more species of the Paradisea or kindred 
forms yet to be described, but further consideration of them will 
be deferred to another occasion. Probably others are still to be 
discovered, and it may be, as has been asserted, that as many as 
forty distinct varieties of these unrivalled creatures await the 
admiration and wonder invariably paid them. But on the 
subject of the irrelevancy of man to the animate beauties of 
nature, some reflections of Mr. Wallace, in connection with 
his first sight of the King-bird of paradise, may profitably be 
studied. 
It is needless to say that- the foregoing descriptions refer in 
every instance to the male bird. The female, as is invariably 
the rule with brilliantly plumaged birds, is comparatively 
plain, positively so in the case of the Rifle-bird where the dull- 
est shade of brown emitting no sparkle whatever is all that 
nature has allotted. She is not even graced with the two bright- 
green middle tail feathers which shine so conspicuously amid 
_ the dark-toned velvet of the male bird. Yet there are some — - 
examples of elegance of form and loveliness of plumage that, 
‘whether their possessors are merely paler reflections of their 
