PAROTIA (AH OL E, Meyer. 
Queen of Saxony’s Bird of Paradise. 
Parotia carolce, Meyer, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, iv. p. vi (Nov. 1894). — Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, iv. p. xili 
(Dec. 1894). — Meyer, Abh. k. zool. Mus. Dresden, 1894-95, no. 5, p. 8, Taf. ii. (1895). — Biittikofer, 
Notes Leyden Mus. xvii. p. 37 (1895). — Rothschild, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, iv. p. xxii (1895). 
This beautiful species of Six-plumed Bird of Paradise was described by Dr. A. B, Meyer from the 
mountains of Amberno, in North-western New Guinea, to the eastward of Geelvink Bay. Since the arrival 
of the first specimen in Europe, a considerable number of skins have been received, and the species is now 
represented in most of the public and private museums of Europe. 
There is no need to enlarge on the differences between Parotia carolce and the other two species of the 
genus Parotia. Besides the white plumes on the flanks and the difference in the crest, the six ornamental 
plumes on the sides of the crown carry very small rackets. 
The form of the crest in this species is also peculiar, and the skins first sent to Europe had the crest- 
feathers so pressed together that the white-tipped plumes hid the median tuft of whitish frontal feathers. 
This was pointed out by Dr. Biittikofer in 1895, and an illustration of the true form of the crest was given 
by him (/. c.). 
P. carolce has the first two primaries sinuated at the end, very much as in P. lawesi, but with a loop in 
the inner web at the commencement of the sinuation. The tail is more square than in P. lawesi, and not at 
all like the graduated tail of P. sexpennis. 
Adult male. Velvety black, with purplish-violet reflections; wings velvety black, the quills dull black, 
the first two primaries having a terminal attenuation ; tail velvety black ; sides of the crown velvety 
black, the feathers tipped with silvery white, which forms a lateral crest ; this crest when closed covering 
the centre of the crown, which commences with a crinkled patch of silvery white feathers on the forehead, 
followed by a patch of glittering golden plumes ; on the nape a triangular shield of metallic feathers, first 
green, then steel-blue, and lastly purplish violet ; on each side of the occiput six thread-like plumes ending 
in a very small racket ; round the eye golden chestnut ; sides of the neck velvety black, the feathers 
elongated and forming a frill; cheeks golden sienna; throat dull ashy whitish, mottled with dusky bases 
to the feathers, the chin blackish ; on the fore-neck a triangular shield of metallic lilac with reflections of 
golden bronze, the feathers centred with spots of velvety black ; remainder of under surface of body black, 
the sides of the body ornamented with long white plumes, or half chestnut and half white, while some 
are chestnut with black centres; under wing-coverts black, with white and chestnut streaks. Total length 
11 inches, culmen 075, wing 63, tail 26, tarsus 2. 
The female has not as yet been described, but it is evidently a reddish-brown bird, barred with black, to 
judge from the plumage of the young male, which has the breast reddish brown, crossed with black bars. 
The Plate represents an adult male and a young male, drawn from specimens in the British Museum. 
