THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series .— VoL III.—No. 3. —All rights reserved. MARCH, 1938.



THE ORANGE-WATTLED BIRD OF

PARADISE


(Macgregoria / pulchra)


By James Fisher


This interesting bird was first described by C. W. de Yis in the

Ibis of 1897, pp. 250-2, from a specimen collected by Sir William

Macgregor in May, 1896, during his journey across New Guinea from

Mambare to the Vanapa River. Sir William was then Governor of

British New Guinea. His collector, Mr. A. Guilianetti, found that

the bird was “ pretty common all over the Scratchley Range ” up to

about 12,600 feet.


Although “ pretty common ”, according to de Vis, the Orange-

wattled Bird of Paradise has never, as far as I can find, had a further

mention in the literature.


When Mr. F. Shaw Mayer brought one of these birds to the

Zoological Gardens on April 29th, 1937, it was the first time that one

had been seen alive outside South-West New Guinea. He brought, too,

a story which may explain why the bird is so rare in collections.

Apparently, most of the natives of the Scratchley Range cannot be

prevailed upon to hunt it since they believe that the mere sight of it

brings bad luck. Mr. Shaw Mayer had the greatest difficulty in finding



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