THE PERCHING BIRDS 
12 I 
QUEENSLAND RIFLE-BIRD 
This unique Australian representati've of the Birds of Paradise 
is about the si-ze of a pigeon. Its plumage is black %vtth a purple 
sheen ; the throat is brilliant metallic emerald-green^ like that of a 
humming-bird 
brown. Later black feathers, with large white 
spots at the tips, make their appearance among 
the brown. These spotted feathers eventually 
replace the brown, and the bird enters upon a 
second quite distinct phase — a black, spotted 
with white. Gradually this gives place to a 
plumage entirely unspotted, the feathers on the 
breast being spear-shaped. In the adult dress 
a wondrous variety of metallic reflections is 
acquired — green, purple, and violet. 
Associating in the autumn and winter in 
large flocks, starlings move from place to place 
in search of food. Sometimes the number of 
birds in these combined flocks rises to an 
enormous figure. One of the largest of these 
gatherings recorded in England existed on the 
property of the late Mr. Miles near Bristol. 
“ This locality is an evergreen plantation . . . 
covering some acres, to which these birds repair 
Photo by Saville~Kenty F.Z.S. 
RED BIRD OF PARADISE 
Found only on the small island of Waigiou, off the north-west roast 
of New Guinea 
fresh. The hut is circular and some 3 feet 
in diameter, and the mossy lawn in front of 
it nearly twice that expanse. Each hut and 
garden are, it is believ^ed, though not known, 
the work of a single pair of birds, or perhaps 
of the male only ; and it may be observed 
that this species, as its trivial name implies, 
is wholly inornate in plumage. Not less 
remarkable is the more recently described 
‘bower’ of the GOLDEN Bower-bird. . . . This 
structure is said ... to be piled up almost 
horizontally around the base of a tree to the 
height of from 4 to 6 feet, and around it are 
a number of hut-like fabrics, having the look 
of a dwarfed native camp.” Allied species, 
though building no bowers, yet clear a space 
of ground some 8 or 9 feet in diameter, on 
which to display themselves, and ornament 
this with little heaps of gaily tinted leaves, 
replacing them as they fade with fresh 
specimens. 
We pass next to the birds of the Starling 
Family, of which the British St.vri.ing is the 
type. A bird so familiar needs no description 
here ; but we may draw attention to the many 
interesting phases of plumage this species 
undergoes. 
The first plumage is a uniform greyish 
