The Four Long White Plumes Which Give
The Bird Its Altogether Unique Character, Spring From Little
Tubercles Close To The Upper Edge Of The Shoulder Or Bend Of The
Wing; They Are Narrow, Gentle Curved, And Equally Webbed On Both
Sides, Of A Pure Creamy White Colour.
They arc about six inches
long, equalling the wing, and can be raised at right angles to
it, or laid along the body at the pleasure of the bird.
The bill
is horn colour, the legs yellow, and the iris pale olive. This
striking novelty has been named by Mr. G. R. Gray of the British
Museum, Semioptera Wallacei, or "Wallace's Standard wing."
A few days later I obtained an exceedingly beautiful new
butterfly, allied to the fine blue Papilio Ulysses, but differing
from it in the colour being of a more intense tint, and in having
a row of blue stripes around the margin of the lower wings. This
good beginning was, however, rather deceptive, and I soon found
that insects, and especially butterflies, were somewhat scarce,
and birds in tar less variety than I had anticipated. Several of
the fine Moluccan species were however obtained. The handsome red
lory with green wings and a yellow spot in the back (Lorius
garrulus), was not uncommon. When the Jambu, or rose apple
(Eugenic sp.), was in flower in the village, flocks of the little
lorikeet (Charmosyna placentis), already met with in Gilolo, came
to feed upon the nectar, and I obtained as many specimens as I
desired.
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