Melissa mener D Lies opi 
— PORE 
X 
1894.] . ^ Some Birds of Paradise from New Guinea. 919 
atra hardly falls behind its congeners in beauty and attract- 
iveness. Instead of the radiant splendor of the Apoda or 
Raggiana, the colors of Superba are darker but marvellously rich, 
—purple,violet, green, bronze, blue—ever varying and shifting 
in changing lights, the whole shot over with satin sheen, while 
silken gleams run fitfully along the compact feathers which, 
nevertheless, never lose their velvety softness. While to com- 
pensate for waving plumes, we have a gorgeous green bifur- 
cated shield for the breast and two pseudo wings or wing 
coverings raised or depressed at will. The head glistens as 
with scales of dark green or blue, according to the reflections. 
It is not without the singular crests or protuberances which 
distinguish certain birds of this family, and it is not unlikely 
that the feathers are at times also erected when the bird is 
excited or pleased. 
The unique adornment, however, of Superba, not omitting 
the curious extensions of metallic green athwart the breast, is 
the half-united pair of mock wings spreading out when raised, 
from the shoulders above the head and shadowing the back 
and sides. The color is black, but blazing with lustre, so that 
as the light strikes the tips of the feathers they become bronze 
or blue, or even green, almost iridescent, always resplendent. 
In size, shape and indescribable coloring, this mantle forms one 
of the most remarkable combinations of feathers which even 
a bird of paradise can show, this, too, on a little creature not 
more than nine inches in entire length. 
D'Albertis informs us that the natives of New Guinea call 
the bird niedda, “from the sound of its notes.” If this is so, 
its voice is materially different from the discordant ery of other 
Paradisea. 
We hear from the incomparable emerald bird of paradise 
(Apoda), for instance, only a hoarse “ wok, wok,” or a succes- 
sion of cawing, unmusical sounds. 
In the Golden bird of paradise, Paradisea sexetacea or Parotia 
sefilata, we find another example of dark, rich clothing in 
contradistinction to the gay apparel of other species of the 
race. The somewhat misleading appellation, golden, is de- 
rived from the flashing colors of the gorget or escutcheon 
