The two middle tail feathers are modified into very
slender wirelike shafts, nearly six inches long, each of which
bears at the extremity, on the inner side only, a web of an
emerald green colour, which is coiled up into a perfect spiral
disc, and produces a most singular and charming effect. The bill
is orange yellow, and the feet and legs of a fine cobalt blue.
(See upper figure on the plate at the commencement of this
chapter.)
The female of this little gem is such a plainly coloured bird,
that it can at first sight hardly be believed to belong to the
same species. The upper surface is of a dull earthy brown, a
slight tinge of orange red appearing only on the margins of the
quills. Beneath, it is of a paler yellowish brown, scaled and
banded with narrow dusky markings. The young males are exactly
like the female, and they no doubt undergo a series of changes as
singular as those of Paradisea rubra; but, unfortunately, I was
unable to obtain illustrative specimens.
This exquisite little creature frequents the smaller trees in the
thickest parts of the forest, feeding on various fruits; often of
a very large size for so small a bird. It is very active both on
its wings and feet, and makes a whirring sound while flying,
something like the South American manakins. It often flutters its
wings and displays the beautiful fan which adorns its breast,
while the star-bearing tail wires diverge in an elegant double
curve. It is tolerably plentiful in the Aru Islands, which led to
it, being brought to Europe at an early period along with
Paradisea apoda. It also occurs in the island of Mysol and in
every part of New Guinea which has been visited by naturalists.
We now come to the remarkable little bird called the
"Magnificent," first figured by Buffon, and named Paradisea
speciosa by Boddaert, which, with one allied species, has been
formed into a separate genus by Prince Buonaparte, under the name
of Diphyllodes, from the curious double mantle which clothes the
back.
The head is covered with short brown velvety feathers, which
advance on the back so as to cover the nostrils. From the nape
springs a dense mass of feathers of a straw-yellow colour, and
about one and a half inches long, forming a mantle over the upper
part of the back. Beneath this, and forming a band about one-
third of an inch beyond it, is a second mantle of rich, glossy,
reddish-brown fathers. The rest of the bath is orange-brown, the
tail-coverts and tail dark bronzy, the wings light orange-buff:
The whole under surface is covered with an abundance of plumage
springing from the margins of the breast, and of a rich deep
green colour, with changeable hues of purple. Down the middle of
the breast is a broad band of scaly plumes of the same colour,
while the chin and throat are of a rich metallic bronze. From the
middle of the tail spring two narrow feathers of a rich steel
blue, and about ten inches long. These are webbed on the inner
side only, and curve outward, so as to form a double circle.
From what we know of the habits of allied species, we may be sure
that the greatly developed plumage of this bird is erected and
displayed in some remarkable manner. The mass of feathers on the
under surface are probably expanded into a hemisphere, while the
beautiful yellow mantle is no doubt elevated so as to give the
bird a very different appearance from that which it presents in
the dried and flattened skins of the natives, through which alone
it is at present known. The feet appear to be dark blue.
This rare and elegant little bird is found only on the mainland
of New Guinea, and in the island of Mysol.
A still more rare and beautiful species than the last is the
Diphyllodes wilsoni, described by Mr. Cassin from a native skin
in the rich museum of Philadelphia. The same bird was afterwards
named "Diphyllodes respublica" by Prince Buonaparte, and still
later, "Schlegelia calva," by Dr. Bernstein, who was so fortunate
as to obtain fresh specimens in Waigiou.
In this species the upper mantle is sulphur yellow, the lower one
and the wings pure red, the breast plumes dark green, and the
lengthened middle tail feathers much shorter than in the allied
species. The most curious difference is, however, that the top of
the head is bald, the bare skin being of a rich cobalt blue,
crossed by several lines of black velvety feathers.
It is about the same size as Diphyllodes speciosa, and is no
doubt entirely confined to the island of Waigiou. The female, as
figured and described by Dr. Bernstein, is very like that of
Cicinnurus regius, being similarly banded beneath; and we may
therefore conclude that its near ally, the "Magnificent," is at
least equally plain in this sex, of which specimens have not yet
been obtained.
The Superb Bird of Paradise was first figured by Buffon, and was
named by Boddaert, Paradisea atra, from the black ground colour
of its plumage. It forms the genus Lophorina of Viellot, and is
one of the rarest and most brilliant of the whole group, being
only known front mutilated native skins. This bird is a little
larger than the Magnificent. The ground colour of the plumage is
intense black, but with beautiful bronze reflections on the neck,
and the whole head scaled with feathers of brilliant metallic
green and blue. Over its breast it bears a shield formed of
narrow and rather stiff feathers, much elongated towards the
sides, of a pure bluish-green colour, and with a satiny gloss.
But a still more extraordinary ornament is that which springs
from the back of the neck, - a shield of a similar form to that on
the breast, but much larger, and of a velvety black colour,
glossed with bronze and purple.
