Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
birds are less strikingly decorated with accessory plumage than the other species we have
been describing, their chief ornament being a more or less developed breastplate of stiff
metallic green feathers, and a small tuft of somewhat hairy plumes on the sides of the breast.
The back and wings of this species are of an intense velvety black, faintly glossed in certain
lights with rich purple. The two broad middle tail feathers are opalescent green-blue with a
velvety surface, and the top of the head is covered with feathers resembling scales of burn-
ished steel. A large triangular space covering the chin, throat, and breast, is densely scaled
with feathers, having a steel-blue or green lustre, and a silky feel. This is edged below with
a narrow band of black, followed by shiny bronzy green, below which the body is covered
with hairy feathers of a rich claret colour, deepening to black at the tail. The tufts of side
plumes somewhat resemble those of the true Birds of Paradise, but are scanty, about as long
as the tail, and of a black colour. The sides of the head are rich violet, and velvety feathers
extend on each side of the beak over the nostrils.
I obtained at Dorey a young male of this bird, in a state of plumage which is no doubt that
of the adult female, as is the case in all the allied species. The upper surface, wings, and tail
are rich reddish brown, while the under surface is of a pale ashy colour, closely barred
throughout with narrow wavy black bands. There is also a pale banded stripe over the eye,
and a long dusky stripe from the gape down each side of the neck. This bird is fourteen
inches long, whereas the native skins of the adult male are only about ten inches, owing to
the way in which the tail is pushed in, so as to give as much prominence as possible to the
ornamental plumage of the breast.
At Cape York, in North Australia, there is a closely allied species, Ptiloris alberti, the fe-
male of which is very similar to the young male bird here described. The beautiful Rifle
Birds of Australia, which much resemble these Paradise Birds, are named Ptiloris paradiseus
and Ptiloris victoriæ. The Scale-breasted Paradise Bird seems to be confined to the mainland
of New Guinea, and is less rare than several of the other species.
There are three other New Guinea birds which are by some authors classed with the Birds
of Paradise, and which, being almost equally remarkable for splendid plumage, deserve to
be noticed here. The first is the Paradise pie (Astrapia nigra of Lesson), a bird of the size of
Paradisea rubra, but with a very long tail, glossed above with intense violet. The back is
bronzy black, the lower parts green, the throat and neck bordered with loose broad feathers
of an intense coppery hue, while on the top of the head and neck they are glittering emerald
green. All the plumage round the head is lengthened and erectile, and when spread out by
the living bird must have an effect hardly surpassed by any of the true Paradise Birds. The
