LOPHORINA ATRA. (Bodd.) 
SUPERB BIRD OF PARADISE. 
Loiseau de Paradis de la Nouvelle Guinee dit le Superbe. — Brisson, Orn., III., p. 169 (1760). — D’Aubent, Planches 
Enluminees, III, pi. 632 (1774). 
Oiseau de Paradis a gorge violette . — Sonn., Voy. Nouv. Guinee, p. 137, pi. 96 (1776). 
Paradisea superba. — Pennant, in Forster, Inch Zool., p. 40 (1781). — Scopoli, Del. Faun, et Flor. Insubr., II., p. 88 
( 1 783)- — Shaw, Gen. Zool,, VII., p. 494, pis. 63-65 (1809). — Id. & Nodcler, Nat. Misc., XXIV., pi. 1021 
(1:813). — Wagler, Syst. Av. Paradisea, sp. 5 (1827). — Wallace, Ibis, 1859, p. 111. 
Sziperb Bird of Paradise. — Lath., Gen. Syn., Vol. 1., part 2, p. 479 (1782 ). 
Paradisea atra. — Bodd., Tabl. PI. Enl., D Aubent, p. 38 (1783). 
Le siiperbe. — Viei 11 ., Ois. Dor., II., pi. 7 (1802). — Levaill., Hist. Nat. Ois. Parad., I., pis. 14, 1:5 (1806). 
Paradisea furcata. — Bechst., Kurze, Fcbers, p. 132 (1811). 
Lophorina superba . — Vieill., N. Diet. d’Hist Nat., XVIII., p. 184 (1817). — Id., Gal. Ois., I., p. 149, pi. 98 (1825). — 
Less. Traite, p. 337 (1831). Id., Ois. Parad. Syn., p. 12 (1835). — Id., Hist. Nat. Ois. Parad., pis. 13,14 (1835). — 
Bonap., Consp. Gen. Av., p. 414 (1850). — Wall., Ibis, 1861. p. 287. — Salvad., Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov., IX., 
p. 190 (1876). — Sharpe, Cat. Bds., III., p. T79 (1877). — Gould, Bds. New Guinea, pt. 6 (1878). 
Epimachus ater. — Schl., Mus. Pays-Bas, Coraces, p. 96, note (1867 ). 
Lophorina atra. — Wallace, Malay Arch., II., p. 249 (1869). — Elliot, Monogr. Parad., pi. ri (1873). — Salvad., Ann. 
Mus. Civic. Genov., VII., p. 783 (1S75). — Beccari, tom. cit, p. 712 (1S75). — Sclater, Ibis, 1876, p. 251. 
Habitat. — New Guinea. 
r T A HE beautiful and curious species which forms the subject ot the present article is a native of Northern New Guinea, 
where it appears to be rather uncommon. Very few specimens have as yet reached this country, and none of the 
naturalists who have visited New Guinea have given us an account of its habits. Dr. Beccari mentions it, but merely says: 
“ Lophorina atra is rather rarer than Parotia, but I must tell you that the abundance of fruit-eating birds in a given locality 
depends principally on the season at which certain kinds of fruit are ripe, therefore a species may be common in a place 
one month and become rare or completely disappear in the next, when the season of the fruit on which it lives has passed.” 
Adult Male. — General plumage very dark brown, almost black, showing bronze and purple reflections in some lights. 
Top of head and large triangular shield extending from the lower part of the throat rich metallic green, showing light 
purple in some lights and steely blue in others. A broad, elevated mantle or shield of velvety black plumes, with bronze 
reflections. A small double crest of purplish-black feathers at the base of the upper mandible; bill and feet black. 
Length, 9 ; wing, 5 ; tail, 3,4; tarsus, 1.20; bill, 1. 
Adult Female. — Above chocolate brown; top and sides of the head dark brown; white spotted feathers over the eye. 
Wing coverts and quills dark brown, showing reddish on the edges. Tail brown. Throat whitish, the feathers being black, 
tipped with white. Under parts buff-white, showing rufous tinge on flanks and under tail coverts, the whole barred with dull 
brown. Wing coverts rufous, barred with brown. 
The specimens figured in the plate are in my own collection. 
