Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
bill is black and the feet yellow. The Astrapia seems to me to be somewhat intermediate
between the Paradiseidæ and Epimachidæ.
There is an allied species, having a bare carunculated head, which has been called
Paradigalla carunculata. It is believed to inhabit, with the preceding, the mountainous interi-
or of New Guinea, but is exceedingly rare, the only known specimen being in the Philad-
elphia Museum.
The Paradise Oriole is another beautiful bird, which is now sometimes classed with the
Birds of Paradise. It has been named Paradisea aurea and Oriolus aureus by the old natural-
ists, and is now generally placed in the same genus as the Regent Bird of Australia
(Sericulus chrysocephalus). But the form of the bill and the character of the plumage seem
to me to be so different that it will have to form a distinct genus. This bird is almost entirely
yellow, with the exception of the throat, the tail, and part of the wings and back, which are
black; but it is chiefly characterised by a quantity of long feathers of an intense glossy or-
ange colour, which cover its neck down to the middle of the back, almost like the hackles of
a game-cock.
This beautiful bird inhabits the mainland of New Guinea, and is also found in Salwatty,
but is so rare that I was only able to obtain one imperfect native skin, and nothing whatever
is known of its habits.
I will now give a list of all the Birds of Paradise yet known, with the places they are be-
lieved to inhabit.
1. Paradisea apoda (The Great Paradise Bird). Aru islands.
2. Paradisea papuana (The Lesser Paradise Bird). New Guinea, Mysol, Jobie.
3. Paradisea rubra (The Red Paradise Bird). Waigiou.
4. Cicinnurus regius (The King Paradise Bird). New Guinea, Aru Islands, Mysol,
Salwatty.
5. Diphyllodes speciosa (The Magnificent). New Guinea, Mysol, Salwatty.
6. Diphyllodes wilsoni (The Red Magnificent). Waigiou.
7. Lophorina atra (The Superb). New Guinea.
8. Parotia sexpennis (The Golden Paradise Bird). New Guinea.
9. Semioptera wallacei (The Standard Wing). Batchian, Gilolo.
10. Epimachus magnus (The Long-tailed Paradise Bird). New Guinea.
11. Seleucides alba (The Twelve-wired Paradise Bird). New Guinea, Salwatty.
12. Ptiloris magnificus (The Scale-breasted Paradise Bird). New Guinea.
13. Ptiloris alberti (Prince Albert's Paradise Bird). North Australia.
