of life in the refpective animals : but it would be in 
vain to enquire into the particular ufe of the long, 
lhaft-like feathers which project from each fide the 
neck of the Paradifea aurata, or thofe which hang 
from the fides of the Paradifea apoda: for the 
ftrange and uncouth convolutions in the wings of 
the Gryllus monftrofus; or the extravagant proceftes 
which terminate thofe of the Phalaena macroura. 
The bird which forms the fubjeCt of the prefent 
plate may alfo be adduced as an equally lingular ex¬ 
ample of the above inexplicable formation; its prin¬ 
cipal character confifting in the exceffively long 
naked lhafts projecting from the upper part of each 
Ihoulder, in the midlt of the fmaller coverts. Thefe 
remarkable feathers are at lealt twice the length of 
the whole bird, and are webbed only at their ex¬ 
tremities : the naked or lhafted part is black, very 
llightly bearded on each fide the whole length; 
and the webbed or plumed ends are dulky or blackilh 
with three or four obfcure cinereous tranfverfe bars. 
The general color of the bird is is a blackilh grey, 
elegantly variegated with l'pecks of black, rufous, 
and whitifh: the wings are ferruginous, all the 
leathers, except the fmaller coverts, being marked 
with numerous blackilh bars : the top of the head 
is darker than the reft of the bird : the under parts 
are pale ferruginous, dalhed with dulky bars and 
patches, and round the back of the neck runs a fort 
of ferruginous collar or band. The wings reach 
beyond the tail, which is cinereous, w r ith blackilh 
bars and freckles: the feet are very fmall, vfith the 
middle 
