5C8 



WE BIRDS OF PJiUDISE. [cn. ixxviii. 



these birds are less st^ikin<^ly decordUjil with accessoiy 

 pltuDage than the other species we have been describing, 

 tfieir chief orrianieiit Ijein^^ a more or lesd developed 

 breastplate of stilT luetiillic green feiUhers, and a small tuft 

 of somewhat hairy pluiuus uii the sides of the breast. The 

 back and %ving3 of this species are of au intense velvety 

 black, faintly glossed in cei"t<iin lights with lich purple. 

 The two broad middle tail feathers are opalescent green- 

 blue with a velvety surface, and the top of the head is 

 covered with feathei-s resembling scales of burnished steel. 

 A large triangular space covering the chin, throat, and 

 breast, is densely scaled with feathers, having a steel-blue 

 or green lustre, and a silky feel This is edgt-d below with 

 a narrow band of black, followed by shiny bronzy green, 

 below which the body is covered with hmvy feathers of a 

 rich claret colour, deepening to black at the tail The tufts 

 of side plumes somewhat resemble those of the true Birds 

 of raradiise, but are scanty, about as long as the tail, and of 

 a black colour. The sides of the huad are rich violet, anil 

 velvety feathers extend on each side of the beak over the 

 nostrils. 



I obtained at Dorey a young male of this bird, in a state 

 of plumage which is no doubt that of the adult female, as 

 is the case in all the allied species. The upper surface, 

 wings, and tail are rich reddish brown, while the under 

 surface is of a pale ashy colour, closely btintid throughout 

 with narrow wavy black bands. There is also a pale 

 banded stripe over the eye, and a long dusky stripe from 

 the gape down each side of the neck. This bird is four- 

 teen inches long, whereiis the native skins of the adult 

 male are only about ten inches, owing to the way in which 

 the tail is puslied in, so as to give as much ]U'omiuenco as 

 possible to the ornamental plumage of the breast. 



At Cape York, in Nortii Aiistndia, there is a closely 

 allied species, Ptiloris alberti, the female of which is very 

 similar to the young male bird liere described. Tlie beau- 

 tiful Kille Birds of Australia, which much resemble these 

 Paradise Birdsj are named Ptiloris paradiseus and Ptiloris 

 victorife. The 8cale-brei>sU'd Paradise Bird seems to be 

 confined to the muinhmd of Kew Guinea, and li less rare 

 than several of th<i other gpecios. 



