MANUCODIA ATRA.
BLACK MANUCODE.
PHONYGAMA ATRA, Less. Voy. Coq., texte (1826}, vol. i. p. 638.—Id. Trait. Ornith. (1831} p. 344. sp. 2, juv.—Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. ii.
(1846} p. 303. sp. 3.
MANUCODIA ATRA, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1859} p. 168. sp. 49, (1861} p. 436.—Id. Hand-1. Birds, pt. ii. (1870} p. 17. sp. 6260.
CHALYBEA ATRA, Schleg. Mus. Pays-Bas (1867), p. 121.
H a b . New Guinea (L e s s ., W a l l .) ; Arou, Salwatti, Waigiou, Ghemien (B e b n s t e in ).
L e s so n , who first described this species as distinct from the ManucotUa chalybea on specimens procured by
liimgplf from New Guinea, in the work published on the voyage of the Coquille, remarks as follows:'—
“ Among the numerous Birds of Paradise that the inhabitants of New Guinea brought every day on board
were found the Calybes, deprived of their legs and feet, and a stick thrust through the body, as is done
with .the true Birds of Paradise. Also we procured several times in our hunts a bird which only differed
from Aint of which we speak by its darker plumage and by the proportions of the body, bill, wings, and tail.
We regard it as a distinct species from the Calyb6 of authors; for all those that we saw were adults, and in
perfect plumage, and were not at all to be confounded with the ordinary CalybS either before or after moulting.
“ This Calyb£ lives alone in the forests of New Guinea. We met with it several times perched amid the
great trees whose fruits it seeks; in its habits it appears closely to resemble the Crow. The Papuans give it
the name of matmnSme."
Head covered with short upright feathers, closely pressed together, with the throat and neck a beautiful light
green. Back and wings cold metallic green, with a slight purplish tinge on the secondaries. Primaries dark brown.
Underparts light green sim ila r to the back. Tail black, with a purple tinge, strongest in the centres of the webs,
between the shaft and the edge. Bill and feet black.
The figures in the Plate are life-size.