BIRDS OF PARADISE. 
339 
wise forms a genus by itself, and is characterised by the absence of long thread-like 
plumes on the head, and the presence of two long projecting feathers from each 
wing, which are capable of being erected at the pleasure of their owner. Its dis¬ 
coverer, Mr. Wallace, describes this bird as being generally of a delicate olive- 
brown colour, deepening to a kind of bronzy olive in the middle of the back, and 
changing to a delicate ashy violet with metallic reflections on the crown of the head; 
the feathers covering the nostrils and extending half-way down the beak being loose 
and upwardly curved. On the breast the scale-like feathers are margined with a 
rich metallic bluish green; while the same colour embraces the throat and sides 
of the neck, together with the long pointed plumes arising from the sides of the 
breast. The two long projecting white feathers springing from near the bend 
of the wings are fully 6 inches in length, and are spread out, whenever the bird 
is excited, at right angles to the wings. The beak is horny olive, the iris deep 
olive, and the foot bright orange. In total length the bird measures 11 
inches. The standard-wing, which resembles the rest of its tribe in being in 
constant motion, frequents the lower boughs of the forest trees, “ flying from 
branch to branch, clinging to the twigs, and even to the smooth and vertical 
trunks almost as easily as a woodpecker. It continually utters a harsh, croaking 
note, somewhat intermediate between that of a Paradisea apoda and Cicinnurus 
regius. The males at short intervals open and flutter their wings, erect the long 
shoulder-feathers, and spread out the elegant green breast-shields.” It is noteworthy 
that the examples of this species from Gilolo differ somewhat in coloration and the 
conformation of the plumes from those inhabiting Batchian, so that an expert is at 
once able to say from which of the two islands any given specimen was obtained. 
Superb Bird of The acme of strange plumal adornment (which in all these cases 
Paradise. j s j n a p probability developed to attract the admiration and attention 
of the female, since it can have no other conceivable object) seems to be attained 
by the superb bird of paradise (Lophorhina superba), which is chiefly characterised 
by the presence of an enormous erectile forked shield of velvety black feathers, 
arising from the nape of the neck, and when in repose lying flatly on the back. 
So strange and apparently incongruous is this shield that it might suggest to the 
beholder that the tail of some other bird had been stuck on to the skin, were it 
not that its feathers are of a different type. The ground-colour of the plumage is 
of the deepest black, but with bronze reflections on the neck, while the feathers of 
the head are metallic green and blue. Spreading over the breast is a shield 
composed of narrow and rather stiff feathers, which extends in a pointed form 
along each side, and is emarginate in the middle. In colour this is bluish green, 
with a satiny sheen; the back-shield, on the other hand, is velvety black, with 
reflections of bronze and purple, its outermost feathers exceeding the primaries 
of the wing in length. So far as Dr. Guillemard could gather from native reports, 
it would seem that the enormous crest, as it appears displayed during the 
courtship of the female, is not only raised, but spread widely out in a fan¬ 
like manner, while the chest-shield is similarly expanded. Hence the head of 
the bird forms the centre of an irregular circle of feathers of velvety black and 
emerald, completely concealing the rest of the body when viewed from the front. 
The remaining genera of the family, such as Phonygama of New Guinea and 
