MANUCODIA CHALYBEA, Bodd. 
Green Manucode. 
Blue-green Paradise-lird, Lath. Gen. Syn. vol. ii. p. 482. sp. 7 (1782). 
Manucodia chalyhea, Bodd. Tabl. Plan. Enl. d’Hist. Nat. de Daubent. (1783). — Elliot, Mon. of the ParadiseidBs, 
pi. Yi. (1873). 
Paradisea viridis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. yoI. i. pt. i. p. 402. sp. 8 (1788). 
Paradisea chalyhea, Lath. Ind. Ornith. yoI. i. p. 197. sp. 10 (1790). 
Le ChalibS, Vieill. Ois. Dor. yoI. ii. p. 24, pi. 10 (1802). — LeYaill. Ois. de Parad. p. 64, pi. 23 (1806). 
Cracticus chalyheus, Vieill. Nouy. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. yoI. y. p. 355 (1816). 
Phonygama chalyheea, Less. Trait. Ornith. p. 344. sp. 1 (1831). 
Phonygama viridis. Gray, Gen. Birds, yoI. ii. p. 303. sp. 1 (1849). — Bon. Consp. Gen. Ay. p. 368 (1850). — 
Rosenb. Journ. fur Orn. 1864, p. 122. 
Manucodia viridis. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 436. 
Chalyhea viridis, Schleg. Tijdsch. Dierk. pt. y. p. 49. 
A GLANCE at the above list of synonyms will show that this species has been known to naturalists for 
nearly a hundred years. Formerly all the skins arrived without either feet or wings, like many other New- 
Guinea birds ; latterly, howCYer, perfect specimens hare come to hand, those appendages not haYing been 
remoYed. That this species is a true Bird of Paradise all must now admit, whatever opinions have been 
entertained to the contrary. We have now at least five species of the genus Manucodia, and are living 
in hope that we may not long be kept in the dark as to their habits and economy, which are likely to be 
characterized by some peculiarities. 
The following is taken from Mr. Elliot’s ‘ Monograph of the Paradiseidas :’ — 
“ The Green Manucode resembles in some respects its relative the M. atra, but may be distinguished in 
nearly all stages of plumage by the frizzled state of the feathers upon the head and neck ; in some speci- 
mens, indeed, these peculiarly formed feathers encroach upon the upper part of the back and breast; and 
they frequently possess variegated colours of different metallic hues. 
“ Feathers of the head short, closely pressed together, elongated over the eyes into diminutive tufts, 
black, with the tips a bright metallic blue; throat, neck, and upper part of breast light green, the feathers 
on the breast appearing as though the tips were frizzled. Back and wings bright metallic purplish blue, 
very glossy upon the secondaries ; primaries rich brown ; underparts similar to the back, but the blue not so 
rich. Tail purplish blue like the wings. Bill black ; feet black.” 
A still more perfect description taken from Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, 
iii. p. 182, is as follows ;• — 
“ Adult Male. — Head purple, the feathers compressed and close-set ; the nape slightly washed with steel- 
greenish, as also the hinder neck and mantle ; back rich purple, the feathers of the interscapulary region 
rather recurved ; wings and tail rich purple, the inner webs of the feathers blackish, the outer wing-coverts 
somewhat shaded with steel-black ; sides of the face and neck deep green, the feathers compressed and 
velvety like those of the crown ; those of the chin, throat, and fore neck extending onto the sides of the 
neck, crinkled and curled and of an oily-green colour ; the rest of the under surface deep purple, the feathers 
being tipped with this colour, less broadly on the vent and under tail-coverts, a few of the abdominal 
plumes with a slight greenish reflection ; under wing-coverts black, the outer edge of the wing washed 
with green ; bill and legs black. Total length 14'5 inches, culmen 1'65, wing 6‘85, tail 5*9, tarsus T55.” 
“Hah. New Guinea. Regions near the coasts and mountain-ranges of the interior (Rosenberg^i' 
The figure on the Plate is of the size of life. 
