XANTHOMELUS AUREUS.
GOLDEN BIRD OF PARADISE.
GOLDEN BIRD OF PARADISE, Edw. Birds, vol. iii. (1 760) p. 112.—Lath. Gen. Syn. vol. ii. (1 782),p. 483.
ORIOLUS AUREUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1 766) vol. i. p. 163. sp. 1 9 .-G ra y , Hand-1. Birds, pt. i. (1 869) p. 293. sp. 4332—VieiU Encv Mith
(1 823) t. i p p 695. no. 6.
LE PARADIS ORANGE, Vieill. Ois. dor. (1 802) vol. ii. p. 26, pis. 11 & 12,
PARADISEA AUREA, Lath. Ind. Om. (1 790) vol. ii. p. 195. sp. 11.—Bechst. Kurz. Uehers.(1811)p. 133. sp. 14.—Schleg. Joum. fur Ornith.
(1 861) p. 386. ■
PARADISEA AURANTIA, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. vii. pt. 1-2 (1 809), p. 499, pi. 68.
LE LORIOT DE PARADIS, LevailL Hist. Nat. des Ois. Parad. (1806) vol. i.p ls. 18,19.'
LOPHORINA AURANTIA, Shaw, Gen. Zool. (1 826) vol. xiv. p. 76.
XANTHOMELUS AUREUS, Bon. Ann. d. Sc. Nat. Sir. iv. Zool. (1 854) p. 122.—Id. Compt. Rend, xxxviii. (1 854) p. 538.—Elliot, Ibis, (1872)
-p.;I12. I-'
SERieULUS AURANTIACUS, Less. Trait. Ornith. (1 831) p. 3 3 9 .- Id . Ois. Parad. (1835) Syn. p. 20. sp. 9, & Hist. N a t p. 201, pis. 2 5 ,2 5 bis,
SERIGULUS AUREUS, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1 861) p. 436.—Schleg. Mus. Pays-Bas (1867), p. 98.—Wall. Proc. ZooL Soc. (1 862) p. 1 6 0 -
Id. Ibis, (1861) p. 287.—Id. Malay Archip. vol.' ii. pp. 267, 268.—Bon. Consp. Av. (I8 6 0 ) p. 349. sp. 1.—Gray, Gen. Birds (1841)
vpl.vi„ p. 232. .
H a b . Salwatty, New Guinea (W a l l a c e ) .
T h i s singular and beautiful bird reminds one by the colour of its plumage of the family of Orioles, and has
received the trivial name of the Paradise Oriole from some naturalists on this account. But its proper position
is with the Paradiseidse; and although it has been generally classed with the Regent bird of Australia in the
genus Sericulm, yet I have considered it more appropriate, from the shape of the bill and general character of
the plumage, such as a long erectile mantle and thick small crest, to place it in a distinct genus by itself,
and have therefore adopted Bonaparte’s term of Xantliontelus.
It is an exceedingly rare bird, never having been received in a perfect state, the natives either cutting off the
legs or pulling out the primary quills; and it is generally necessary to have more than one specimen in order to
obtain all the various portions of the bird. The female, as is the case with those of many species of Paradise-birds,
is even more rarely seen than the male, probably either because her sombre plumage renders her more difficult to be
detected in the thick forests where they live, or else, being less desirable as an article of trade when bright feathers
only are sought after, the natives neglect her and search after the more gaily attired male. Nothing whatever is
known of the economy or habits of this handsome species, our acquaintance with it being confined to the few skins
in various collections. Mr. Wallace did not see it himself. He says, “ this beautiful bird inhabits the mainland 0f
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.” Doubtless this species has the power to elevate and spread the
mantle with which it is adorned, somewhat in the manner exhibited in the acompanying plate; and beautiful indeed
must it appear when thus displaying itself before its admiring mate, the quivering plumes falling around it like a
shower o f gold.
Male.—Head and lengthened plumes of the back, which cover the upper part of the body like a mantle, deep
rich orange. Feathers of the throat extending in a point on to the breast; primaries and tail jet-black. All the
rest of the plumage deep rich yellow; the tips o f the secondaries black. Bill horn-colour at base, black for the
remaining portion.
Female.—-General plumage uniform olive-colour ; the throat blackish brown, spotted with olive. The bill and
feet brown.