EP1MACHUS SPECIOSUS. rBoddJ 
MAGNIFICENT BIRD OF PARADISE. 
Le Grand Promerops de la Notivelle-Guinee. — Sonn., Voy. Nov.-Guin., p. 163, pi. 101. 
Grand Promerops a paremens /rises. — Buff., H. N. Ois., Vol. VI. p. 472. 
Uptipa speciosa. — Bodd, Tabl., pi. enl., p. 39. 
New Guinea Brown Promerops. — Lath., Gen. Syn. 1, Pt. 2, p. 694. 
Promerops striata. — Shaw, Gen. Zook, Vol. VIII. p. 144. 
Promerops sttperbus. — Shaw, tom. cit, p. 145. 
Ealcinellus superbus. — Vieill., N. D. d’Hist. Nat. 28, p. 166. 
Epimachus magnus. — Cuv., Regne Anim., Vol. I. p. 407. 
Cinnamolegus papuensis. — Less., Ois. Parad. Syn. p. 32. 
Epimachus speciosus. — Gray, Gen. B. 1, p. 94. — Elliot, Mon. Parad., pi. 19. — Salvad., Ann. Mus, Civic. Genov., Vol. VII. 
p. 785 ; Vol. IX. p. 190. — Sharpe, Cat. B. 3, p. 162. — Gould, Bds. N. Guinea, Pt. VII. 
Epimachus magnus. — Wall., Ibis , 186 t, p. 287. — Id., P. Z. S., 1862, p. 160. 
Epimachus maxinms. — Gray, P. Z. S., 1861, p. 433. — Id., Handh. Bds. 1, p. 105. — Beccari, Am. Mus. Civic. Genov. 7, 
p. 710. — Id., Ibis, 1876, p. 249. 
\ LTHOUGH the present species has been known to naturalists for many years, yet very little has been learned 
■*“ regarding it. Mr. Wallace did not find it during his explorations among the Papuan Islands. He says : “ This 
splendid bird inhabits the mountains of New Guinea, in the same district with the Superb ( Lophorina atra) and the 
Six-Shafted ( Parotia sexpennis) Paradise Birds, and I was informed is sometimes found in the ranges near the coast. I was 
several times assured by different natives that this bird makes its nest in a hole under ground or among rocks, always 
choosing a place with two apertures, so that it may enter at one and go out at the other. This is very unlike what we 
should suppose to be the habits of the bird, but it is not easy to conceive how the story originated il it is not true ; and all 
travellers know that the native accounts of animals, however strange they may seem, almost invariably turn out to be 
correct.” 
Adult Male. — Above brownish-black, showing steely reflections; upper part of head bright metallic blue; a line of 
steel-blue feathers down the middle of the back ; quills brownish-black, showing bluish tinge in some lights ; cheeks metallic 
blue, showing a purplish tinge in some lights ; chin blackish ; throat purple; underparts dark olive green. From the sides 
of the breast spring long feathers with broad outer webs, the inner webs being very narrow ; these feathers are purplish- 
black, the lower ones tipped with brilliant metallic blue. The flank feathers, extending beyond the lateral plumes, are 
broadly tipped with brilliant emerald-green, preceded by a narrow line of blue. Two central tail feathers, very long and 
black, showing steel-blue and purple reflections, others brownish-black; bill black, long and curved; feet and tarsi black. 
Length, 40 inches; wing 7.50; tail (including two central feathers) 28 inches; tarsus 2 ; bill 3. 
Adult Female. — Above olive-brown ; upper part of head reddish-brown ; secondaries edged with rufus ; cheeks, 
throat, and upper part of breast brownish-black; underpart pale, narrowly barred with black; tail brownish, with tinge of 
rufus ; bill and feet as in the male, smaller. 
The specimens above described are in my own collection. 
