BRITISH BIRDS. 
290 
fmall difficulty. cc Its matchlefs plumage,” fays 
Buffon, “ feems to combine all that delights the 
eye in the foft and delicate tints of the finefl flow- 
ers ; all that dazzles it in the fparlding luftre of 
the gems ; and all that aflonifhes it in the grand 
difplay of the rainbow.” Its head is adorned with, 
a tuft, confifting of twenty-four feathers, whofe 
flender fhafts are furnifhed with webs only at the 
ends, painted with the mofl exquifite green, mixed 
with gold ; the head, throat, neck, and break, are 
of a deep blue, globed with green and gold $ the 
back the fame, tinged with bronze ; the fcapulars 
and leffer wing coverts are of a reddifh cream co- 
lour, variegated with black ; the middle coverts 
deep blue, gloffed with green and gold ; the great- 
er coverts and baftard wing are of a reddifh brown, 
as are alfo the quills, fome of which are variegated 
with black and green ; the belly and vent are black, 
with a greenifh hue : But the diflinguifhing cha- 
racter of this fingular bird is its train, which rifea 
juft above the tail, and, when ereded, forms a fan 
of the moft refplendent hues ; the two middle fea- 
thers are fometimes four feet and a half long, the 
others gradually diminifhing on each fide ; the 
fhafts, which are white, are furnifhed from, their 
origin nearly to the end with parted filaments of 
varying colours, ending in a flat vane, which is 
decorated with what is called the eye . “ This is 
a brilliant fpot, enamelled with the moft enchant- 
ing colours ; yellow, gilded with various fhades ; 
