410 The American Naturalist. [May, 
four narrow ribbons of unequal width, that had somehow 
become entangled on the back of the bird. They are of a 
whitish color, a pleasing contrast to the sober hue of the 
upper parts, and especially to the vivid greens and emeralds 
of the breast and throat. 
A two-fold shield extends its points several inches on either 
side after the fashion of the Superb bird of paradise. ‘This 
targe sparkles with radiance, but aside from it and a less 
observed gleam of violet on the head, the Standard-wing is 
comparatively plain; perhaps no other species wears such a 
quaker garb. Short, recurved feathers impinging upon the 
bill, cover the forehead. The tail is stiff and square, and 
nearly overlapped by the wings. Both have white shafted 
feathers. ' Altogether the bird is destitute of the rich colora- 
tion of others of its tribe, save in the deeply forked pectoral 
shield, which, however, in its intense, sparkling lustre, makes 
partial amends. This is contrasted with the uniform drab of 
the rest of the plumage with striking effect. Herein lies the 
beauty of the Semioptera. Its oddity rests in the extraordinary 
standard-wing plumes. For about half their length, these 
widen out oar-like in white feathers, the remaining part up to 
the body consisting of the bare quill-shaft. The bird is 
almost a foot in length, the native of Gilolo being larger than 
that from Batchian and morestrongly marked. It is remark- 
able, as Mr. Wallace points out in his admirable account, that 
this is the only species of paradise birds known beyond the bor- 
ders of Papua and Northern Australia. Its habits are active, 
and its dissonant voice keeps pace with its movements. It 
may frequently be seen flitting rapidly among low tree- 
branches or clinging to the boughs. The female is in plain 
colors with scarcely a gloss on her feathers, excepting the 
crown, and is entirely without shield, alar plumes or green 
glaze. 
Among the true birds of paradise, Mr. Wallace classes 
Diphyllodes wilsonii and calls it a distinct species, “still more 
rare and beautiful” than the Magnificent, which it resembles 
in size and plumage. This bird, strangely enough, was first 
‘discovered’ in Philadelphia, where, however, it must be con- 
