33° 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
following, are regarded as near allies of the crows, from which they may be 
distinguished by the abnormal structure of the toes. Thus, the outermost or fourth 
toe is inferior in length to the third, which is longer than the second; while the 
first is very large, and equal to or longer than the third. According to Dr. Sharpe’s 
arrangement, the birds of paradise may be divided into two groups, in the first of 
which the beak is short and more or less stout, with its culmen shorter than the 
metatarsus; while in the second it is long and slender, the culmen being longer than 
the metatarsus. 
These birds, which are represented by nearly fifty species, are almost wholly 
confined to New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands (especially the Aru group), 
although one genus is found in the Moluccas, while three genera extend to North 
Australia. Although the females are at best generally plain and ordinary-looking 
birds, often of a uniform chocolate-colour, the adult males of all the species are 
characterised by an extraordinary development of plumage, quite unparalleled in 
any other group. “ In several species,” writes Mr. Wallace, “ large tufts of delicate 
bright-coloured feathers spring from each side of the body beneath the wings, 
forming trains, or fans, or shields; and the middle feathers of the tail are often 
elongated into wires, twisted into fantastic shapes, or adorned with the most 
brilliant metallic tints. In another set of species these accessory plumes spring 
from the head, the back, or the shoulders; while the intensity of colour and of 
metallic lustre displayed by their plumage is not to be equalled by any other birds, 
except, perhaps, the humming-birds, and is not surpassed even by these.” 
Although but very little is known in regard to the habits of these lovely 
birds, it appears that as regards food they are generally omnivorous, feeding on 
fruits and insects, and showing a marked preference for figs, grasshoppers, locusts, 
leaf-insects, and caterpillars. Even, however, when supplied with food of this 
nature in captivity they almost immediately pine and die. While the long-tailed 
species are purely arboreal, some of the short-tailed kinds, like the six-plumed 
bird of paradise, are frequently seen on the ground; and in all cases the cock-birds 
are fond of assembling for mutual display. Till recently their eggs have been 
almost unknown, but such as have been obtained recall those of some of the 
rails in appearance. They are two in number, and laid in a nest built high up in 
the tree-tops. The eggs of the Empress Augusta paradise-bird have a pale pinkish 
buff ground-colour, upon which are streaks and spots of reddish brown and grey. 
Several of the species have a very small distributional area, but in no case is 
the range more restricted than in the red bird of paradise, which is entirely con¬ 
fined to the small island of Waigiou, at the north-western extremity of New 
Guinea, in which spot it replaces the members of the genus to which it belongs 
found in the other islands. 
Twelve-Wired Commencing with the second of the two groups referred to 
Bird of Paradise, above, or the one in which the beak is relatively long and slender, 
we may take as a first example the beautiful twelve - wired bird of paradise 
(Seleucides nigricans), which is the sole representative of this genus. Having 
a short, squared tail, much inferior in length to the body, this genus is dis¬ 
tinguished by the absence of a jugular shield of metallic plumes on the throat 
and fore-neck; and still more so by the feathers of the flanks, which are 
