1895.] Birds of New Guinea. 631 
The-Blue-bodied Lupetes—Eupetes cxrulescens—is a small 
thrush-like bird about 8 inchesin length. D’Albertis speaks 
somewhat doubtfully about its habits. It runs along the 
ground, he says, and does not appear to perch upon the trees. 
Gould, however, figures it on low branches. In color it is not 
unlike our shrikes, although darker and more uniform, the 
prevailing tint being a soft bluish grey. Black is seen on the 
face and as a narrow rim surrounding the pure white throat. 
A less clear gray is spread on the under tail feathers; other- 
wise the gradations of the uniform steel blue are scarcely 
observable. The bill is sharp and black ; legs and feet black. 
The noticeable feature of this bird is the pure white throat, 
the white extending well down on the breast and half way 
round the neck. This feature is characteristic of this fine 
group of birds and marks them out at once. 
The Manucodes form in their several species a beautiful 
class of richly plumed birds, sometimes numbered with the 
Paradisea, but belonging rather to the crow family. They are 
however a glorified crow in their sparkling dress and imperial 
bearing. One of the most conspicuous for size and elegance 
is the Curl-crested bird of paradise, as he is sometimes styled 
—Manucodia comrii. This species is of a wondrously lustrous 
black throughout; it fairly blazes out with the very inten- 
sity of brightness, so that all the possible combinations 
which rays of light fastening upon a gleaming black sur- 
face are capable of forming, here display themselves in 
changing blue, violet, green, purple, etc. The dazzling effect 
is greatly magnified and heightened by the appearance as it 
were of beads and spangles of feathers upon the flat surface 
of the body. Upon these the reflections of light seize and 
glitter with a fitful radiance. To no bird, therefore, can the 
term sparkling be applied with as much appropriateness 
as to the Manucodes, Especially are these short, crisp, curl- 
feathers producing the strange effect abundant on the breast. 
In fact, they cover it, while reaching around the sides and 
upon the shoulders. The head, too, with its double crest of 
compact, thick feathers, is almost as heavily bejewelled. In 
addition to the short convoluted feathers, another singular 
43 
