SUPERB PARADISE-BIKD. 49^ 



mentioned: all the rest of the bird is black, but 

 the wings of a browner black than the feathers by 

 which they are accompanied: these consist of a 

 vast set of broad and somewhat falciform soft 

 velvet-black plumes, situated on each side the 

 shoulders, and exhibiting the appearance of a 

 double pair of wings, either overhanging the real 

 ones,^ or elevated at pleasure above them : the tail 

 is of moderate length, or not exceeding that of a 

 Thrush in proportion; at least so far as may be 

 judged from the specimens hitherto observed of 

 this species, which appears to be very rare in the 

 European cabinets. The individual described by 

 the Count de Buffon, and figured in the Planches 

 Enluminees, is represented with the false wings 

 elevated and expanded, but the lucid blue-green 

 feathers forming the thoracic or abdominal fork 

 are so expressed as to convey an idea of their di- 

 vided ends closely investing the sides, instead of 

 projecting and hanging downwards. In Monsr. 

 Viellot's publication a more judicious representa- 

 tion is given, in which this part is well expressed, 

 and in which the false wings hang over the true 

 ones: the legs in this bird are black, and of mode- 

 rate strength. 



There can be no doubt that the bird comme- 

 morated by Mr. Latham, from an imperfect speci- 

 men in the Leverian Museum, was of this species : 

 its colour was black: the wings were partly want^ 

 ing, but a part of the false wings remained, while 

 on the upper part of the abdomen was a very 

 large and very strongly forked or swallow-tail set- 



