DREPAROI\NI5 ALBERJTSI.
DREPANORNIS ALBERTIS!
D’A LBBR TIS 'S BIRD OP PARADISE.
DREPANORNIS ALBERTISI, Sclater, Proc. Zoo! Soc. (1873) p. 558.
H a b . Mount Arfak, New Guinea (A l b e r t i s ) . .
P e r h a p s the most wonderful, as it certainly is the most interesting bird procured by Signor d’Albertis during his
stay in New Guinea is the present species, a pair of which, representing both sexes, were included in the
small collection forwarded to Dr. Sclater, a list of which, with descriptions of the novelties, has been ' lately
published in the Proceedings o f the Zoological Society of London. Among the peculiarities of this new form,
is th e very long and greatly curved bill, this being, strangely enough, longer and more curved in the female
than in the male. The latter, although it might at first sight be deemed rather a plain bird, is really possessed
of an extraordinary and beautiful adornment, in the two tufts of plumes springing from its sides, which, when
raised and spread above the body, would present an ornament almost unique of its kind, and the bird would
then appear to the greatest advantage; the 'brilliant metallic red of the feathers composing the smaller tuft would
flash upon the eye in the sun’s rays like a flame, tempered to a certain degree however by the deep-purple
terminations of the more lengthened plumes springing a little lower down from the sides. Signor d’Albertis’s notes
on this species, furnished to Dr. Sclater, are as follows :—i“ This will probably prove to be a new bird, both
generically and specifically. It is a very rare bird; and many of the natives did not know it; but others called
it ‘Quama.’ The peculiarity o f this bird consists in the formation of the bill, head, and softness of the plumage.
At first it does not appear to have the beauty peculiar to other birds of this class; but when observed more closely
in a strong light, the plumage is seen to be rich and brilliant: the feathers rising from the base of the beak are of
a metallic green, and reddish copper-colour; the feathers of the breast when smooth are of a violet-grey, and
when raised form a semicircle round the body, reflecting a rich golden colour; other violet-grey feathers arise
from the flanks, which are edged by a rich metallic violet tint; and when the plumage is entirely expanded, the
bird appears as if it had formed two semicircles around itself, very handsome. * * * This species is met with
in the vicinity of Mount Arfak. Its food is not known, nothing having been found in the stomachs of those
prepared except clean water.”
Male.—Head covered with short rather stiff light-brown feathers tipped with deep purple. Two spots of
metallic-blue feathers between the eyes and bill, projecting above the eyes like horns; a spot of bare skin
behind the eyes, apparently red. Neck and back rufous brown. Primaries blackish brown, edged with light
rufous brown on the outer webs. Secondaries light rufous brown on outer web, black on the inner, edged with
very light reddish brown. The three innermost secondaries light reddish brown on both webs. Upper tail-coverts
and tail bright reddish brown. Chin and throat metallic deep purple, black in certain lights. Breast covered
with long feathers, grey, with rich purple reflections, and edged on the lower part with dull green, crossing the
body in a narrow bar. From either side near the shoulder of the wing spring two tufts of feathers that extend
beyond the breast-shield, of an intense metallic fiery red, tipped with purple. These when not elevated are
altogether hidden by the outer feathers, which are uniform purple like the breast. From the flanks, just above
the termination of the breast-shields, on either side, project two long tufts of plumes, which extend to the end
of the under tail-coverts, o f the same colour as th e . breast, brownish grey, each feather tipped with very
brilliant deep purple. The abdomen and under tail-coverts pure white, the former streaked with purplish grey
on the upper portion. Bill very long, slender and much curved, black. Feet and tarsi dark lead-colour.
Female.—Head chestnut-brown. Back and wings rufous brown. Primaries and secondaries blackish brown on
inner web, outer web brown. Upper tail-coverts and tail light red. Chin and throat blackish brown, each feather
with a central streak o f light brown. Breast light brown, irregularly barred with dark brown. Flanks and lower
parts of body yellowish brown, indistinctly barred with dark brown, except in the centre of the abdomen, which is
light reddish white. Thighs reddish, barred with brown, under tail-coverts pale reddish. Iris chestnut. Bill long,
curved, and slender like that of the male, black. Feet and tarsi lead-colour.