505 



We aow comt! to the Eyuiiachidic, or Loiig-billed Birds 

 of Paradise, wliicli^ as before stated, ouj^ht uot to bu sepa- 

 rated imm the Paradiseidx by tlie iuterveiitioii of any 

 other birds. One of the most remarkable of these is the 

 Twelve-wired Pai-adise Birtl, Paradisoa idba of Bliimeiibach, 

 but DOW placed in the genus Seleucides of Lesson, 



This bird is about twelve inches loug, of which the com- 

 pressed and ciuved beak occupies two inches. The culour 

 of the breast and upper surface appears at lirst sight neiuly 

 black, but a close examination shows that no part of it is 

 devoid of coloui" ; and by holding it in various lights, the 

 most rich and glowing tints become viaiblc. The head, 

 covered witli short velvety feathers, wliich advaoce on the 

 cliin much further tliuu on the upper part of the beak, is 

 of a purplish bronze colour ; the whule of the back and 

 shouldei's ia rich bronzy green, while the closed wings 

 and tail are of the most brilliant violet purple, all the 

 plumage having a delicate silky gloss. The mass of 

 feathers which cover the breast is really almost black, 

 with faint glosses of green and purple, but their uuter 

 edges are margined with glittering hands of emerald green. 

 The whole lower part of the body is rich bully yellow, 

 iucluding the tuft of plumes wliich spring from the sides, 

 and extend an inch and a half beyond the tail- When 

 skins are exposed to the light the yelluw fades into dull 

 white, from which circumstance it derived its specihc 

 name. About six of the innermost of these plumes ou 

 eatjh side have the midrib elongated into slender black 

 wkes, which bend at right angles, and curve somewhat 

 backwards to a length ol about ten inches, forming one of 

 those extraordinary and fantastic ornaments with which 

 this group of birds abounds. The bill is jet black, and the 

 feet bright yellow. (See lower lignre ou tlie plate at the 

 l^egimiing of this chapter). 



The female, although not quite so plaiu a bu-d as in 

 some other species, presents none of the gay colours or 

 ornamental plumage of the male. The top of the head and 

 back of the neck are bhick, the rest of the upper parts 

 rich reddish brown; while the under smface is entirely 

 yellowish ashy, somewhat blackish on tire breast, and 

 crossed thixjughuut with mirrow blackish wavy bands. 



