MIRAGE 
167 
feathers attached to the back of the head. On the head also is 
a beautiful patch of metallic feathers, bluish green changing to 
purple and crimson, while on the throat hangs a forked shield 
of the same lovely colours. The greater superb bird of paradise 
(L. atra) much resembles the above, and a mounted specimen is 
in the Liverpool Museum. 
I conclude with the species intermediate between the true 
birds of paradise and the bower birds. Of these the golden 
bird of paradise iXanthomelus atireus), Macgregor’s bird of 
paradise (Onemophilus Macgvegori) and the regnet bird {Seri- 
culus melinus) will serve as examples. Macgregor’s bird of 
paradise is in colouration perhaps the strangest of the family, 
the contrast between the rich golden yellow, passing into golden 
brown, of the entire upper surface, and the rich chocolate brown 
of the entire under surface being most striking. A small tuft of 
upright yellow feathers stands at the base of the beak. This 
is a very rare species, and I am informed that eight only have 
been sent to this country. Of these seven have already been 
disposed of, and this week I had the pleasure of purchasing the 
only one left, a fine male in splendid condition. 
I trust that these notes will cause others to take an interest 
in this magnificent but little-known group of birds, and shall be 
pleased to advise any intending students as to books, purchase 
of specimens, &c. ; and I hope that an increased effort will be 
made to secure that these birds shall be effectively protected by 
a close season, lest they follow only too rapidly the fate of the 
quagga, the dodo and the great auk. 
Graham Renshaw, M.B. 
Sale, Manchester. 
MIRAGE. 
N June 12, I was taking tea at about 5 o’clock in a 
garden on the sea shore, opposite the Isle of Wight, 
and eight miles from the Needles. It was a sultry 
evening, hardly a breath of air stirring. One of our 
party was making a sketch in water colours of the scene before 
us, and, being in difficulties, resorted to a long telescope to try 
and get a proper view of the Needle Rocks. This she was 
unable to obtain, and, on her appealing to us to look in their 
direction, we all got interested in the following phenomena. 
We saw first a dark horizontal line, some miles in length, 
which lay apparently above the water, cutting the Needles half 
way up, and the Needles looked taller than usual. Presently 
the water seemed to rise, obliterating the black line, getting 
above it, and at length leaving only the tips of the Needles and 
Lighthouse visible. 
