^i"ii(lii;illy ÌMc r c : i s c in density inni then assnine the silvery white forehead wliieh is so conspieuoiis in the adult.
Then are assnaied ^radn.dly the nietallie eolonrs of the oeeipital diadern, and at the same time some metallic
leathers also appear on tlu' throat and fore-n(iek, \v'hile the brown plumage becomes black' ami of a velvety
texture. Successively the feathers of the wings and tail begin to i)e black and jiresent a velvet aspect,
while a collar of velvety black' pinmes appears ou the neck, the featliers of wiiicti are lengthened. The
nietallie shield on the throat gradually extends, as does also the black of the chin and the sides of the breast;
the breast, abdomen, and innler tail-coverts and the long liank-feathers also blacken, and the three long
phimes on each side of tlie crown make tlieir ajipearance, being black from the very coinniencemeiit. The
last poi'tions of the body to show remains of yonng plumage arc the abdomen and the rump. The series of
sjiecimcus in the British Museum has not been e.xtensive cnongii to allow me to follow ail the changes of
|)hinnige riescribed by Count Salvador!, Init the allied species, P. lamest, appears to go through a very
similar succession ; but the order of change appears to nie to vary with individuals. Thus some siiecimens
conimenee to de\'elop the ornamental plumes on the head before any sigTi of tlie gular shield is apparent,
and they are occasionally fully develo|)ed when oidy a slight blackening of the throat has commenced.
The rackets at the end of the oniameutal plumes are at first longitudinal in shajie, bat quickly assume
their ovate form.
The home of this sjiecies is the Arfik Mountains, in North-western New Guinea. In the Charles Lewis
Mountains it is represented by I', carola;, and in the Owen Stanley Mountains by V. lawesi.
Dr. Ueccari has given the following note on the species:—" Oi Paratia sexpcmis I got one adnit male
alive, hut it only lived three clays. Its eye, with the iris azure surrounded by a yellow ring, is extremely
beautiful. The six feathers which ornament the head are not raised up vertically, but moved backwards
and forwards in a horizontal ami oblique direction, and are moved forward parallel to the sides of the
beak. It is the commonest Paradise-bird at Mount Arfak, but, as usual, the adult males are much scarcer
than the females and young males."
The following remarks are from the pen of Signor D'Albertis :—" Although this species liiis been
knowu for many years, it is not yet accurately uiiderstood, having otdy been described from birds in a
mutilated condition. My observations have been made in the natural haimts of these elegant birds,
from numerous specimens both living and dead. These birds are found in the north of New Guinea.
I met with them about thirty miles from the coast, at an elevation of 3000 feet above the level
of tlie sea, near Mount .Arfak. I have never found the adult male in company with females or young
birds, but always in the thickest parts of the forest; the females and young birds are generally found in a
much lower zone. This Paradise-bird is very noisy, uttering a note like 'guaad-guaa<l.' It feeds u])on
various kinds of fruits, more especially a species of fig which is very plentiful in the mountain-ranges ; at
other times I have observed it feeding on a small kind of nutmeg. To clean its rich |)lumage this bird is
accustomed, when the ground is dry, to scrape (similarly to a gallinaceous bird) around jihices clear of all
grass and leaves, and to roll over and over again in the dust produced by the clearing, at the same time
crying out, e.'iteniling and contracting its )iluniage, elevating the brilliant silvery ercst on the iijiper part of its
head, and also the six remarkable plumes from which it derives the specific name of sco'peiin'is. On seeing
its eceentric movements at this time, and hearing its cries, one would consider it to be engaged in a fight
with some imaginary enemy. This bird is named ' Caran-a ' by the natives. I have also a skeleton of a
young male of this species, which, although not in a perfect state, may no doubt be interesting as showing
the form of the cranium, on which there is an admirable muscular structure which enables the bird to
elevate the feathers of the head. The feathers at, the nape of the neck exhibit, when the rays of light strike
upon them, a rich and brilliiint metallic hue. The eyes are of a light blue, with a circle of pale yellowishgreen
colour."
.Mull male. General colour above rich imrplish velvety black, including the wings and tail ; jilumes of
head and neck also close-set and velvety, purplish black like the back ; above the ear-coverts a tuft of
elongated silky hair-like plumes, from among the anterior ones of which spring three thread-like shafts
on eiiher side of the head, each ornamented with an ovate racket of velvety black; frontal plumes purplish,
the feathers tipped with shining white, which forms a band across the forehead, these stiff plumes being
capable of depression forwards nearly to the tip of the bill ; across the upper crown a band of brilliant
metallic plumes, the centre ones bright green with a double sub-terminal bar of purple and blue, the
outermost ones somewhat more shining with metallic purple and lilac ; throat velvety purplish black, the
lower throat and fore-neck forming a brilliant metallic shield, composed of golden-cojiper feathers, shining
with steel-green, blue, and purple, and relieved by a me.lian spot of velvety black ; rest of under surface
of body glossy black ; on each side of the breast the plumes elongated into two lax velvety shields: hill and
legs black: "iris light blue, with a circle of pale yellowish-green ,:i,\mxv" {JX Jlhcrtk). Total length
1'2'5 inelies, eulmen 1-3, wing G'l, tail 5-25, tarsus 2-1.
Adah female. Dilfercnt from the male, being dark chestnut-brown above ; quills and tail blackish,
externally reddish brown ; crown of head, nasal plumes, feathers round the eye, and car-covcrts black ;
cheeks and throat greyish white, finely barred with black and separated from each other by a broad malar
band of black; sides of neck black, encroaching on the sides of the lower throat; remainder of under
surftice of body, from the lower throat downwards, isabelline, regularly barred with black. Total length
I I ' o inches, wing 0'9.
The specimens figured in the Plate are in the British Museum, and the descriptions are taken from birds
in the same collection.