XX 



INTRODUCTION. 



never found the adult male in company with females or young birds, but always in the thickest parts of the 

 forests ; the females and young birds I have generally found in a much lower zone. This Paradise-bird is very 

 noisy, uttering a note like ' Guaad-guaad ;' it feeds upon various kinds of fruits, more especially on a species of 

 fig which is very plentiful in the mountain-ranges; at other times I have observed it feeding on a smaU kind of 

 nutmeg. To clean its rich plumage this bird is in the habit, where the ground is dry, to scrape, similar to a 

 gallinaceous bird, a round place clear of all grass and leaves, and in the dust produced by the clearing to roll 

 over and over again, at the same time crying out, extending and contracting its plumage, elevating the brilliant 

 silvery crest on the upper part of its head, and also the six remarkable plumes from which it derives the specific 

 name of sexpennis. On seeing its eccentric movements at this time, and hearing its cries, one would consider it to 

 be engaged in a fight with some imaginary enemy. This bird is named ' Caran-a ' by the natives. I have also a 

 skeleton of a young male of this species, which, although not in a perfect state, may no doubt be interesting as 

 showing the form of the cranium, on which there is an admirable muscular structure which enables the bird to 

 elevate the feathers of the head. The feathers at the nape of the neck exhibit, when the rays of light strike 

 upon them, a rich and brilliant metallic hue. The eyes are of a light blue, with a circle of a pale yellowish green 

 colour." 



Genus LOPHORINA. 

 Lophorina, Vieill. Analyse (1816), p. 35. 



10. Lophorina atra . . . • • • • • • Plate XI - 



M. Albertis, who obtained this species in New Guinea, says "it is found in the same mountains as the last- 

 named species (P. sexpennis), and feeds upon simdar fruits. It flies from branch to branch in the forests, uttering 

 a cry of ' nied-nied,' and from this peculiar note is named by the natives ' Niedda.' The muscles used in the 

 elevation of the crest of P. sexpennis are surprising, but are surpassed in size by those of this bird; for with 

 them it can extend, contract, elevate, and depress the long velvet feathers which, commencing a little below the 

 occiput, extend along the body like a mantle ; and when this is elevated, the two feathers, horns, or tufts at 

 the root of the beak are raised at the same time." 



Genus DIPHYLLODES. 

 Diphyllodes, Lesson, Ois. Parad. (1835) p. 16. Type D. speciosa. 



11. Diphyllodes speciosa Plate XII. 



12. Diphyllodes speciosa, var. chrysoptera .......... Plate XIII. 



13. Diphyllodes respublica Plate XIV. 



Genus XANTHOMELUS. 



Xanthomelus, Bonap. Ann. d. Sc. Nat., Ser. iv. Zool. (1854) p. 122, desc. null. Characterized, Elliot, Ibis, 1872. 



Type X. aureus. 



14. Xanthomelus aureus Plate XV. 



Genus CICINNURUS. 

 Cicinnurus, Viefll. Ency. Method. (1823) t. iii. p. 908. 



15. Cicinnurus regius Plate XVI. 



Genus PARADIGALLA. 



Paradigalla, Less. Ois. de Paradis (1835), p. 242. Characterized Rev. Zool. (1840) p. 1. Type P. carunculata. 



16. Paradigalla carunculata ............ Plate XVII. 



