THE BIRDS OF PARADISE. 
180 
color, which is coiled up into a perfect sjjiral 
disk, and produces a most singular and charm¬ 
ing effect. The bill is orange-yellow, and the 
feet and legs of a fine cohalt-blue. 
The female of this little gem is such a plainly 
colored bird that it can at first sight hardly be 
believed to belong to the same species. The 
upper surface is of a dull earthy-brown, a slight 
tinge of orange-red appearing only on the mar¬ 
gins of the quills. Beneath it is of a paler 
yellowish-brown, scaled and banded Avith nar- 
roAV dusky markings. The young males are 
exactly like the female, and they no doubt un¬ 
dergo a series of changes as singular as those 
of Paraclisea rubra; but, unfortunately, I Avas 
unable to obtain illustrative specimens. 
This exquisite little creature frequents the 
smaller trees in the thickest parts of the forest, 
feeding on various fruits, often of a very large 
size for so small a bird. It is very active both 
on its Avings and feet, and makes a Avhirring 
sound Avhile flying, something like the South 
American manakins. It often flutters its 
Avings and displays the beautiful fan AA’hich 
adorns its breast, Avbile the star-bearing tail 
wires diverge in an elegant double curve. It 
is tolerably plentiful in the Aru Islands, Avhich 
led to its being brought to Europe at an early 
period along Avith Paradisea apoda. It also 
occurs in the island of Mysol, and in eA^ery 
part of NeAv Giiinea Avhich has been visited by 
naturalists. 
We noAv come to the remarkable little bird 
called the Magnificent, first figured by Buffon, 
and named Paradisea speciosa by Boddaert, 
which, Avith one allied species, has been form¬ 
ed into a separate genus by Prince Bonaparte, 
under the name of DiphyUodes, from the curi¬ 
ous double mantle Avhich clothes the back. 
The head is covered Avith short broAvn vel- 
A'ety feathers, Avhich advance on the beak so as 
to cover the nostrils. From the nape springs 
a dense mass of feathers of a straAv-yelloAv col¬ 
or, and about one and a half inches long, form¬ 
ing a mantle over the upper part of the back. 
Beneath this, and forming a-band about one- 
third of an inch beyond it, is a 
second mantle of rich, glossy, 
reddish-broAvn feathers. The rest 
of the back is orange-broAvn, the 
tail coA-erts and tail dark bronzy, 
the Avings liglit orange-bnff. The 
Avhole under surface is covered 
with an abundance of plumage 
springing from the margins of the 
breast, and cf a rich deep green 
color, Avith changeable hues of 
purple. DoAvn the middle of the 
breast is a broad l)and of scaly 
plumes of tlie same color, Avhile 
the chin and throat are of a rich 
metallic bronze. From tbe mid¬ 
dle of the tail spring tAvo narroAV 
feathers of a rich steel-blue,^ and 
about ten inches long. These 
are AA^ebbed on the innei side 
only, and curve outAvard, so as to foi'm a double 
circle. 
From Avhat Ave know of the habits of allied 
species Ave may be sure tliat the greatly dcA’el- 
oped jdumage of this bird is erected and dis¬ 
played in some remarkable manner. The mass 
of feathers on tlie under surface are probably 
expanded into a hemisphere, Avhile the beauti¬ 
ful yelloAv mantle is no doidit elevated so as to 
give the bird a very different a])pearance from 
that Avhich it jwesents in the dried and flattened 
skins of the natives, through Avhich alone it is 
at present knoAvn. The feet appear to he dark 
blue. This rare and elegant little bird is found 
only on the main land of NeAV Guinea, and in 
the island of Mysol. 
A still more rare and beautiful species than 
the last is the DiphyUodes Wilsoni, described 
by Mr. Cassin from a native skin in the rich mu¬ 
seum of Philadelphia. The same bird AA'as after- 
Avard named DiphyUodes respuhlka by Prince Bo¬ 
naparte, and still later Schlcyelia calva by Dr. 
Bernstein, Avho AV'as so fortunate as to obtain 
fresh specimens in Waigiou. 
In this species the upper mantle is snlphur- 
yelloAv, the loAver one and the Avings pure red, 
the breast plumes dark green, and tbe length¬ 
ened middle tail feathers much shorter than in 
the allied species. The most curious differ¬ 
ence is, hoAvever, that the top of the head is 
bald, the bare skin being of a rich cobalt-blue, 
crossed by several lines of black velvety feath¬ 
ers. 
It is about the same size as DiphyUodes specio¬ 
sa, and is no doubt entirely confined to the island 
of Waigiou. The female, as figured and de¬ 
scribed by Dr. Bernstein, is very like that of 
Cicinnurus regius, being similarly banded be¬ 
neath ; and Ave may therefore conclude that 
its near ally, the “Magnificent,” is at least 
equally plain in this sex, of Avhich specimens 
have not yet been obtained. 
The Superb Bird of Paradise Avas first fig- 
Tired by Buflbn, and Avas named by Boddaert 
Paradisea atra, from tbe black ground color of 
itsqilumage. It forms the genus Lophorina of 
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THK MAGNIFICENT IJIRP OF PARAPISE. 
