404 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Eastern Inland*. 



and shorter feathers, of a golden yellow, and shining. From the rump 

 proceed two long stiff shafts, which an; feathered on their extremities.— 

 They come always in flocks of thirty or forty, and are led by a bird 

 which the inhabitants call the king, distinct from the little king-bird. This 

 leader is black with red spots, and constantly flies higher than the rest of 

 the flock, which never forsake him, but settle as soon as he settles — a cir- 

 cumstance which becomes their ruin when the king lights on the ground, 

 from whence they are not able to rise, on account of the singular structure 

 and deposition of their plumage. 



The natives catch them with bird-lime and in nooses, or shoot them 

 with blunt arrows ; tbey then cut their legs off, draw the entrails, and 

 fumigate them, and sell them at Banda for about a rix-dollar each ; whereas 

 at Aroo one of these birds may be bought for a spike-nail, or a piece of 

 old iron. 



II. The small Brno is about twenty inches long; his beak lead- 

 coloured, and paler at the point, the eyes small, and enclosed in black ; 

 about the neck he is green ; the head and back of the neck are of a dirty 

 yellow ; the back of a greyish yellow ; the breast and belly of a dusky co- 

 lour ; the wings small, and chestnut-coloured. The long plumage is about 

 a foot in length, and paler than in the larger species, as in general the 

 colours of this small bird are less bright. The two long feathers of the tail 

 are constantly thrown away by the natives. This is in all respects like the 

 greater sort; they follow likewise a king, or leader, who is however 

 blacker, with a purplish cast, and finer in colour than the rest ; though 

 this bird is also different from the third and fourth black species. This 

 kind is found only in the Fapua Islands. 



III. The large black Bird is brought without wings or legs for 

 sale, so that of this species it is difficult to give an exact description. Its 

 figure, when stuffed, is narrow and round, but stretched in length to the 

 extent of four spans. The plumage on the neck, head, and belly is black 

 and velvet-like, with a hue of purple and gold, which appears very strong. 

 The bill is blackish, and one inch in length ; on both sides are two bunches 

 of feathers, which have the appearance of wings, although they are very 

 different, the wings being cut off by the natives. The plumage is soft, 

 broad, similar to peacocks' feathers, with a glorious gloss and greenish hue. 

 The feathers of the tail are of unequal length ; those next to the belly are 

 narrow, like hair; the two uppermost are much longer, and pointed; those 

 immediately under them are above a span and a half longer than the upper 

 ones ; they are stiff on both sides, fringed with a plumage like hair, black 

 above, but glossy below. Birds of thi« kind are brought from no other 



