This
Singular And Brilliant Bird Inhabits The Same Region As The
Superb Bird Of Paradise, And Nothing Whatever Is Known About It
But What We Can Derive From An Examination Of The Skins Preserved
By The Natives Of New Guinea.
The Standard Wing, named Semioptera wallacei by Mr. G. R. Gray,
is an entirely new form of Bird of
Paradise, discovered by myself
in the island of Batchian, and especially distinguished by a pair
of long narrow feathers of a white colour, which spring from
among the short plumes which clothe the bend of the wing, and are
capable of being erected at pleasure. The general colour of this
bird is a delicate olive-brown, deepening to a loud of bronzy
olive in the middle of the back, and changing to a delicate ashy
violet with a metallic gloss, on the crown of the head. The
feathers, which cover the nostrils and extend half-way down the
beak, are loose and curved upwards. Beneath, it is much more
beautiful. The scale-like feathers of the breast are margined
with rich metallic blue-green, which colour entirely covers the
throat and sides of the neck, as well as the long pointed plumes
which spring from the sides of the breast, and extend nearly as
far as the end of the wings. The most curious feature of the
bird, however, and one altogether unique in the whole class, is
found in the pair of long narrow delicate feathers which spring
from each wing close to the bend.
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