THE LIVING WORLD. 
291 
larity of this bird, nature has placed above and below its wings feathers of an 
extraordinary form, and such as one does not see in other birds; she seems, 
moreover, to have pleased herseli in painting this being, already so singular, 
with her most brilliant colors. The head, neck and belly are glittering green; 
the feathers which cover 
these parts possess the lus¬ 
tre and softness of velvet 
to the eye and touch ; the 
back is changeable violet; 
the wings are of the same 
color, and appear, accord¬ 
ing to the lights in which 
they are held, blue, violet, 
or deep black, always, how¬ 
ever, imitating velvet. The 
tail is composed of twelve 
feathers, the. two middle 
ones the longest, and the 
lateral feathers gradually 
diminish; it is violet or 
changeable blue above and 
black beneath. These 
feathers shine with the 
brilliancy of polished metal. 
“ The feathers above the 
wings are of the color of 
polished steel, changing into blue, terminated 
by a large spot of brilliant green, and form¬ 
ing a species of tuft or appendage at the mar¬ 
gin of the wings. Below the wings spring 
long curved feathers, directed upward; these 
are black on the inside and brilliant green 
on the outside. The bill and feet are black.” 
Twelve-thread* Plume Bird (E . a/bus ) 
bears some resemblance to the previous spe¬ 
cies, especially from the shoulder of the wings 
forward, and inhabits the same region. The 
body color is rich violet, and the collar feath¬ 
ers, forming a ruff, are emerald green. I11 
this species the tail is short and fluffy, from 
the downy feathers of which spring twelve 
thread-like shafts, from which peculiarity the 
name has been given. Occasional specimens 
of this bird have been found that were a snowy • 
white. 
Superb Bird of Paradise {Paradisea superba). This species carries its 
most distinguishing feature on the shoulder, instead of about the tail, as in 
those previously described. The scapulary feathers are so developed as to 
form a bifurcated arch, which maj^ be raised at the will of the bird above the 
BIRDS OF PARADISE. BIRD OF THE GODS 
[Paradisea apoda). kinglv bird of 
paradise [Cicinnurus regius). ra¬ 
diant crowned paradise ( Parotia 
sefilata ). 
