Between Whiles They Fly
Across From Branch To Branch In Great Excitement, So That The
Whole Tree Is Filled With Waving Plumes In Every Variety Of
Attitude And Motion.
(See Frontispiece.) The bird itself is
nearly as large as a crow, and is of a rich coffee brown colour.
The head and neck is of a pure straw yellow above and rich
metallic green beneath.
The long plumy tufts of golden orange
feathers spring from the sides beneath each wing, and when the
bird is in repose are partly concealed by them. At the time of
its excitement, however, the wings are raised vertically over
tile back, the head is bent down and stretched out, and the long
plumes are raised up and expanded till they form two magnificent
golden fans, striped with deep red at the base, and fading off
into the pale brown tint of the finely divided and softly waving
points. The whole bird is then overshadowed by them, the
crouching body, yellow head, and emerald green throat forming but
the foundation and setting to the golden glory which waves above.
When seen in this attitude, the Bird of Paradise really deserves
its name, and must be ranked as one of the most beautiful and
most wonderful of living things. I continued also to get
specimens of the lovely little king-bird occasionally, as well as
numbers of brilliant pigeons, sweet little parroquets, and many
curious small birds, most nearly resembling those of Australia
and New Guinea.
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