PARADISEA RAGGIANA. 



MARQUIS DE RAGGI'S BIRD OF PARADISE. 



PARADISEA RAGGIANA, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1873) p. 559. 

 Hab. Arangesia Bay, New Guinea (D'Albertis). 



By the efforts of enterprising explorers the varied fauna of the great island of New Guinea is becoming by little 

 and little better known to us, and the wonderful species composing its avi-kingdom are gradually being brought to 

 the notice of naturalists. 



In no one particular family does it appear more conspicuously rich than in that containing the Birds of 

 Paradise, which doubtless had its origin in the high mountain-ranges and deep secluded valleys of the interior, 

 into the great majority of which no European has yet been able to penetrate. 



By what strange and beautiful forms of the animal world these virgin retreats may be inhabited we can do 

 no more than conjecture ; for our knowledge is as yet of the slightest, and drawn only from such gleanings 

 as have been made from the outer boundaries — these materials, however, having been obtained only after much 

 perseverance, privation, and danger on the part of those who have attempted to unveil the secrets of this 

 unknown land, and bring forth its treasures for the benefit of science. 



Among the latest novelties with which we have been made acquainted, are the two extraordinary Birds of 

 Paradise the Brepanornis Albertisi and the present species, obtained by Signor d'Albertis during his recent journey 

 in New Guinea ; and these show us how inexhaustive is creative power in producing forms so varied and 

 diversified from any others known. The Bird of Paradise whose portrait is presented in the accompanying Plate, 

 has its nearest affinity in the Paradisea apoda, possessing similar colours in the feathers of its body (though 

 differently arranged) and with a like structure of its side-plumes. These last, however, instead of being yellow, 

 terminating with a purple gloss like those of the well-known Great Bird of Paradise, are deep red, calling to mind the 

 plumes of P. sanguinea, to which, however, they otherwise in no way assimilate. Only two imperfect skins of this 

 beautiful species were procured, both of males ; but they were sufficient to afford a very correct idea of the appear- 

 ance of the bird in life. Signor d'Albertis does not say if he killed the specimens himself ; I should judge not, but 

 rather that they were obtained from the natives, as all the skins prepared by him are in very good condition. The 

 only remarks he makes regarding this species are embodied in the following sentences: — "The mutilated skins of 

 this bird resemble the Red Paradise-bird, but differ in some particulars. I procured them at Orangeisa Bay, where 

 P. papuana and P. apoda are unknown to the natives, judging by their surprise when I exhibited some skins 

 of those species." It is not stated whether the species is rare ; it is probable that it is not, but goes in flocks, 

 and resembles in its habits the P. apoda of the Aru Islands. 



Dr. Sclater, to whom this beautiful species was sent, has, at the request of Signor d'Albertis, named it after the 

 Marquis de Raggi, of Italy. I am indebted to my friend Dr. Sclater for the opportunity of transcribing the remarks 

 on these Birds of Paradise which were forwarded by their discoverer with the specimens. 



This species may be described as foUows : — 



Head and throat deep green, a spot on the chin at the base of mandible almost black in certain lights. Upper 

 part of breast very dark chestnut, forming a conspicuous band ; rest of underparts fight chestnut-brown. Back of 

 head and neck, with a narrow line passing round the throat, dividing the green from the dark chestnut of the 

 breast, light yellow. Back dark brown; tail rufous brown. A mass of long plumes, with their webs loose and 

 separated, spring from the side near the shoulder of the wing, beautiful red, growing lighter towards their tips. 

 Near the base of the central tail-feathers start two webless shafts, which in the specimen described had attained a 

 length of about two feet, falling over the tail-feathers and curving outwards. Bill yellowish at the tip, inclined to 

 a lead-colour near the base. 



