DREPANORNIS ALBERTISI. Sclater. 
D'ALBERTIS’ BIRD OF PARADISE. 
Drefianornis Albertisi. — Sclater, P. Z. S. (1873), p. 558, p. 47. — Elliot, Monograph, Paradiseidse, pi. 21. — Gould, Bds. 
New Guinea, pt. 1. 
Epimachits Wilkelmincz . — Meyer. J. F. O. (1873), p. 404. — Id., Ibis (1874), p. 303. 
Habitat. — New Guinea. 
r | ’'HIS wonderful bird is one of the rarest of its family. At first sight it appears dull in plumage, but a close exam- 
ination reveals such exquisite shadings of gold, bronze, and purple as to entitle it to rank as beautiful as well as curious. 
It was first discovered by Signor d’ Albertis during his explorations in the island of New Guinea. He obtained it at Mount 
Arfak. In writing of this species, he says : “ This will probably prove to be a new bird, both generically and specifically. 
It is a very rare bird, and many of the natives did not know it; but others called it ‘ Quarna.’ The peculiarity of this 
species consists in the formation of the bill, head, and softness of the plumage. At first it does not appear to have the 
beauty peculiar to other birds of this class ; but when observed more closely, in a strong light, the plumage is seen to be 
rich and brilliant; the feathers rising from the base of the beak are of a metallic green and reddish copper-color; the 
feathers of the breast, when smooth, are of a violet-gray, and when raised form a semicircle round the body, reflecting a 
rich golden color ; other violet-gray feathers arise from the flanks, which are edged by a rich metallic violet tint, and when 
the plumage is entirely expanded the bird appears as if it had formed two semicircles round itself, and is very handsome. 
The tail and wing feathers are yellowish ; underneath they are of a darker shade. The head is barely covered with small 
round feathers, which are rather deficient at the back of the ear. The shoulders are tobacco-color, and under the throat 
black, blending into olive. The breast is violet-gray, banded by a line of olive, the rest white. The beak is black, eyes 
chestnut, and the feet of a dark leaden color. This species is met with in the vicinity of Mount Arfak. Its food is not 
known, nothing having been found in the stomachs of those prepared except clean water.' 
The following careful descriptions are taken from Mr. Elliot’s Monograph of the Paradiseidse ; — 
“ Male. — Head covered with short, rather stiff light-brown feathers, tipped with deep purple. Two spots of 
metallic-blue feathers between the eyes and bill, projecting above the eyes like horns ; a spot of bare skin behind the eyes, 
apparently red. Neck and back rufous-brown. Primaries blackish-brown, edged with light rufous feathers on the outer 
webs. Secondaries light rufous-brown on outer w T eb, black on the inner, edged with very light reddish-brown. The three 
innermost secondaries light reddish-brown on both webs. Upper tail coverts and tail bright reddish-brown. Chin and 
throat metallic deep purple, black in certain lights. Breast covered with long feathers, gray, with rich purple reflections, 
and edged on the lower part with dull green, crossing the body in a narrow bar. From either side, near the shoulder of 
the wing, spring two tufts of feathers that extend beyond the breast-shield, of an intense metallic fiery red, tipped with 
purple. These, when not elevated, are altogether hidden by the outer feathers, which are uniform purple like the breast. 
From the flanks, just above the termination of the breast-shields, on either side project two long tufts of plumes, which 
extend to the end of the tail coverts, of the same color as the breast, brownish-gray, each feather tipped with very brilliant 
