a little cooked flesh was also acceptable to them. Their mode o f hopping about from perch to perch
and clinging to the bars or wires o f the cage reminded one o f a Jay or Jackdaw. They were fond of
a bath, and were very careful in dressing and drying their fine plumes. These were about two months
in growing to their full perfection 5 and it was a charming sight to see them when in full plumage.
When uttering their loud call the body was bent forward, the wings spread open and raised up, frequently
over their heads, meeting the plumes, which were spread in the most graceful manner, every feather
vibrating in a way that almost dazzled the sight. During this display the bird would become greatly
excited, and sometimes turn almost under the perch or branch,“the head and neck being bent so low down.
At this period we found that they would not agree, but attacked each other; and we were therefore obliged
to keep them separated by a wire division. They hopped about like Jays or Jackdaws, never ran like
Starlings or Magpies, and, when on the ground, raised the points o f the plumes so that they should not
touch the earth. They soon became very tame, and would take food from the hand; and the sight o f a
meal-worm would bring them down from their perch immediately. The moult was extremely rapid, the
fine plumes being thrown off" in a few days; and these appeared to grow all at the same time in a bunch.
It is therefore certain that these birds, after they attain the adult plumage, lose it only during the
annual moult, like the Peacock and many other richly ornamented birds.”
I have been constrained to give an additional Plate to exhibit the young male and the female o f the natural
size, which I could not do on the same Plate with the adult male in full display o f the plumes.
The young male has been regarded as a different bird, and named P . bartletti, as will be seen on reference
to the synonymy.
The accompanying illustrations represent an adult male in the nuptial plumage, and a young male and
a female on the second Plate, all of the natural size.
J.&uitlii&KHarktlel/eb i
PARADISEA PAPUANA.
(Tfoung Male and-£&halfe)