Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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
from mutilated native skins. This bird is a little larger than the Magnificent. The ground col-
our 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 orna-
ment 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.
The outermost feathers of this shield are half an inch longer than the wing, and when it is el-
evated it must, in conjunction with the breast shield, completely change the form and whole
appearance of the bird. The bill is black, and the feet appear to be yellow.
