PARADISEA MINOR 



the Peninsular and Oriental steamers cockroaches were scarce, and it was only by setting traps in the store-rooms 

 and by hunting an hour every night in the forecastle, that I could secure a few dozen of these creatures, scarcely 

 enough for a single meal. At Malta, where I stayed a fortnight, I got plenty of cockroaches from a bakehouse, and, 

 when I left, took with me several biscuit-tins full as provision for the voyage home. We came through the 

 Mediterranean in March, with a very cold wind; and the only place on board the mail-steamer where their large 

 cage could be accommodated was exposed to a strong current of air down a hatchway, which stood open day and 

 night; yet the birds never seemed to feel the cold. During the night journey from Marseilles to Paris it was a sharp 

 frost ; yet they arrived in London in perfect health, and lived in the Zoological Gardens for one and two years, often 

 displaying their beautiful plumes to the admiration of the spectators. It is evident, therefore, that the Paradise-birds 

 are very hardy, and require air and exercise rather than heat ; and I feel sure that if a good-sized conservatory 

 could be devoted to them, or if they could be turned loose in the tropical department of the Crystal Palace, or the 

 Great Palm-house at Kew, they would live in this country for many years." The following short note by Mr. Sclater 

 was published in the Proceedings of the Society on the arrival of the birds brought by Mr. Wallace : — 



"The two Paradise-birds had been lodged in the upper part of the Zoological Society's old Museum, a room 

 having been fitted up for their reception, with a large cage of galvanized wire, 20 feet long by 11 in width. As 

 they were both males, it had been found necessary to keep them apart, the sight of one another, or even of a 

 Paradise-bird's plume waved near them in the air, producing in them great excitement. The cage had been, 

 therefore, divided by a screen which excluded the light, and the two birds placed in the separate compartments. 

 The remarkable side plumes which ornament the males of the true Paradises when in full dress were as yet but 

 partially developed in these specimens, but in a few weeks, if the birds continue to thrive, would probably attain 

 their full dimensions." 



Mr. A. D. Bartlett, the Superintendent of the Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park, has kindly furnished me with 

 the following account regarding the two individuals of this species which lived for some time in the Society's aviary. 

 "When the two Birds of Paradise first arrived at the Gardens in April 1862, their plumes were quite short, only 

 about five inches long. The birds had moulted, and the new feathers were growing in a thick bunch on each side 

 below their wings. They appeared in good health and were active and lively. I soon ascertained how fond they 

 were of meal-worms and other insects ; and they fed freely upon fruit, boiled rice, &c. ; a . little cooked flesh was 

 also acceptable to them. Their mode of hopping about from perch to perch and clinging to the bars or wires 

 of the cage reminded one of a Jay or Jackdaw. They were fond of a bath, and were very careful in dressing 

 and drying their fine plumes : these were about two months in growing to full perfection ; and it was a charming 

 sight to see them when in full plumage. When uttering their loud call, the body was bent forwards, the wings 

 spread open and raised up, frequently over their beads, meeting the plumes, which were spread in the most 

 graceful manner, every feather vibrating in a way that almost dazzled the sight. During this display the bird 

 would become greatly excited, and sometimes turn almost under the perch or branch, the head and neck being 

 bent so low down. At this period we found they would not agree, but attacked each other ; and we were 

 therefore obliged to keep them separated by a wire division. They hopped about like Jays or Jackdaws, never ran 

 like Starlings or Magpies, and when on the ground raised the points of the plumes so that they should not 

 touch the earth. They soon became very tame and would take food from the hand ; and the sight of a meal- 

 worm would bring them down from the perch immediately. The moult was extremely rapid, the fine plumes 

 being thrown off in a few days; and these appeared to grow all at the same time in a bunch. It is therefore 

 certain that these birds, after they attain the adult plumage, lose it only during the annual moult, like the 

 Peacock and many other richly ornamented birds." 



Male. — Feathers of the head and throat short, upright, velvety in texture. Head, back of neck, and upper part 

 of back rich yellow; rest of upper parts, wings, and tail rich reddish brown. Front, chin, throat, extending in 

 a curved line on the side of the neck to behind the eye, deep metallic green, becoming so dark upon the 

 chin as to appear black. The greater wing-coverts are edged with a line of bright yellow. Entire underparts 

 rich rufous brown. From each side of the body, beneath the wings, springs a mass of lengthened plumes, usually 

 lying along the body and drooping at the ends. These can be elevated over the back at the will of the bird, 



