5C:i THE BIRDS OF PARJDISE. [cu. rxxvia, 



and of a velvety black colour, glossed with bronze and 

 purple. The outerniost feathera of this shield are half 

 an inch longer than the wing, and when it is elevated 

 it must, in conjunction with tlie breast shield, completely 

 change the farm and whole appearance of the bird. The 

 bill is black, and the feet appear to be yellow. 



This wonderful little bird inhabits the interior of the 

 northern peninsula of New Guinea only. Neither I nor 

 Mr. Allen could hear anything of it in any of the islands 

 or on any part of the coast. It is true that it was obtained 

 from the coast-natives by Lesson ; but when at Sorong in 

 1861, Mr. Allen learnt that it is only found three days' 

 journey in the interior. Owing to these " Black Birds of 

 Paradise," as they are called, not being so much valued as 

 articles of merchandise, they now seem to be rarely pre- 

 served by the natives, and it thus happened that during 

 several years spent on the coasts of New Guinea and in 

 the Moluccas I was never able to obtain a skin. We are 

 therefore quite ignorant of the habits of this bird, and 

 also of its female, though the latter is no doubt as plain 

 and incon.spicuou3 as in ali the other species of this 

 family. 



Tlie Golden, or Si.t-shafted Paradise Bird, is another 

 rare species, first figured by Butfon, and never yet 

 obtained in perfect condition. It was named by Bod- 

 daert, Paradisea sexpennis, and fonna the genus Parotia 

 of Viellot. This wonderful bird is about the size 

 of the female Paradisea rubra. The plumage appears 

 at fii'st sight black, but it glows in ceitain lights 

 with bronze and deep purple. The throat and breast 

 are scaled with broatl Hat feathers of an intense golden 

 hue, changing to green and blue tints in certain lights. 

 On the back of the bead is a broad recurved band 

 of feathei-s, whose brilliancy is indescribable, resembling 

 the sheen of emerald and Uipii?. rather than any organic 

 substance. Over the forehead is a lai-ge patch of pure 

 white feathers, which shine like satin ; and trom the sides 

 of the heiid spring the six wonderful feathers from which 

 the bird receives its name. Tliese are slender wires, six 

 inches long, with a small oval web at the extremity. In 



