DREPANORNIS ALBERTISI. 



D'ALBERTIS'S BIRD OP PARADISE. 



DREPANORNIS ALBERTISI, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1873) p. 558. 

 Hab. Mount Arfak, New Guinea (Albertis). 



Perhaps the most wonderful, as it certainly is the most interesting bird procured by Signor d' Albertis during his 

 stay in New Guinea is the present species, a pair of which, representing both sexes, were included in the 

 small collection forwarded to Dr. Sclater, a list of which, with descriptions of the novelties, has been lately 

 published in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Among the peculiarities of this new form, 

 is the very long and greatly curved bill, this being, strangely enough, longer and more curved in the female 

 than in the male. The latter, although it might at first sight be deemed rather a plain bird, is really possessed 

 of an extraordinary and beautiful adornment, in the two tufts of plumes springing from its sides, which, when 

 raised and spread above the body, would present an ornament almost unique of its kind, and the bird would 

 then appear to the greatest advantage ; the brilliant metallic red of the feathers composing the smaller tuft would 

 flash upon the eye in the sun's rays like a flame, tempered to a certain degree however by the deep-purple 

 terminations of the more lengthened plumes springing a little lower down from the sides. Signor dAlbertis's notes 

 on this species, furnished to Dr. Sclater, are as follows : — " This will probably prove to be a new bird, both 

 generically and specifically. It is a very rare bird ; and many of the natives did not know it ; but others called 

 it ' Quarna.' The peculiarity of this bird consists in the formation of the bill, head, and softness of the plumage. 

 At first it does not appear to have the beauty peculiar to other birds of this class ; but when observed more closely 

 in a strong light, the plumage is seen to be rich and brilliant: the feathers rising from the base of the beak are of 

 a metallic green, and reddish copper-colour ; the feathers of the breast when smooth are of a violet-grey, and 

 when raised form a semicircle round the body, reflecting a rich golden colour ; other violet-grey feathers arise 

 from the flanks, which are edged by a rich metallic violet tint ; and when the plumage is entirely expanded, the 

 bird appears as if it had formed two semicircles around itself, very handsome. # # # This species is met with 

 in the vicinity of Mount Arfak. Its food is not known, nothing having been found in the stomachs of those 

 prepared except clean water." 



Male. — Head covered with short rather stiff light-brown feathers tipped with deep purple. Two spots of 

 metallic-blue feathers between the eyes and bill, projecting above the eyes like horns ; ' a spot of bare skin 

 behind the eyes, apparently red. Neck and back rufous brown. Primaries blackish brown, edged with light 

 rufous brown on the outer webs. Secondaries light rufous brown on outer web, black on the inner, edged with 

 very light reddish brown. The three innermost secondaries light reddish brown on both webs. Upper tail-coverts 

 and tail bright reddish brown. Chin and throat metallic deep purple, black in certain lights. Breast covered 

 with long feathers, grey, with rich purple reflections, and edged on the lower part with dull green, crossing the 

 body in a narrow bar. From either side near the shoulder of the wing spring two tufts of feathers that extend 

 beyond the breast-shield, of an intense metallic fiery red, tipped with purple. These when not elevated are 

 altogether hidden by the outer feathers, which are uniform purple like the breast. From the flanks, just above 

 the termination of the breast-shields, on either side, project two long tufts of plumes, which extend to the end 

 of the under tail-coverts, of the same colour as the breast, brownish grey, each feather tipped with very 

 brilliant deep purple. The abdomen and under tail-coverts pure white, the former streaked with purplish grey 

 on the upper portion. Bill very long, slender and much curved, black. Feet and tarsi dark lead-colour. 



Female. — Head chestnut-brown. Back and wings rufous brown. Primaries and secondaries blackish brown on 

 inner web, outer web brown. Upper tail-coverts and tail light red. Chin and throat blackish brown, each feather 

 with a central streak of fight brown. Breast fight brown, irregularly barred with dark brown. Flanks and lower 

 parts of body yellowish brown, indistinctly barred with dark brown, except in the centre of the abdomen, which is 

 light reddish white. Thighs reddish, barred with brown, under tail-coverts pale reddish. Iris chestnut. Bill long, 

 curved, and slender like that of the male, black. Feet and tarsi lead-colour. 



