THE SUPERB EPIMAGHUS. 
145 
Until some method lias been discovered by which these naked parts can be restored to 
their original shape and brilliancy, they will always present that repulsive shrivelled appear- 
ance which is too familiar to all who have compared a stuffed skin with the living, or even 
with the dead 
creature before 
decay has fairly 
set in. Mr. Wa- 
terton’s method 
is the best that 
has as yet been 
put forward, 
but it is too 
tedious to be of 
much service 
even in the 
closet, and in 
the field or for- 
est would occu- 
py so much time 
that the collec- 
tor would find 
his days taken 
up with the 
never - ending 
labor of preserving the skin, and could give no time to 
the observation of habits, or the procuring of specimens. 
Perhaps some mode of injection might be discovered 
which would answer the purpose of preserving the form 
and color of these appendages, as well as it serves the 
purpose of the anatomist in preserving the form and 
SUPERB PLUME BIRD . — Epimachus speciosus. 
of 
color 
the veins and arteries, and which would not 
require any cumbrous apparatus beyond the usual outfit 
of a hunter-naturalist. 
To proceed with the description of the Neomorpha. 
The tail is of the same deep black-green as the rest of 
the body, but the uniform monotony of the tint is pleas- 
ingly interrupted by a broad band of pure white which 
is drawn round its edges. The bill is of a rather dark- 
brown color, and is rather lighter towards the extremity 
than at the base. This bird is a native of New Zealand. 
PLUME BIRDS. 
We now come to the true Plume Birds, which have 
been placed in various positions by the different zoolo- 
gists who have written upon this subject ; some classing 
them with the bird of paradise, to which they certainly 
bear a great external resemblance, both on account of 
the luxuriancy and the peculiar brilliant hues of the 
plumage, while others have considered them as nearer 
allied to the honey-suckers, and have, in consequence, placed them in close proximity to those 
beautiful birds. 
The Superb Epimachus is a native of New Guinea, and is one of the most lovely creatures 
