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P A H O T l i ^ CAR OJI,.^:,, Vev«'.
J fV Hcidcriuin^- (Üc Hart liel.ci liUi . .Wntifiti Btvy ''Hp-
P A R O T I A CAR O L Í E , Majer.
Queen of Saxony's Bird of Paradise.
Pm-otia caroliB, Meyer, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, iv. p. vi (Nov. 1894).—Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Orii. Club, iv. p. xiii
(Dec. 1894).—Meyer, Abh. k. zool. Mus. Dresden, 1894-95, no. 5, p. 8, Taf. ii. (1890).—Biittikofer,
Notes Leyden Mus. xvii. p. 37 (1S95).—Rothschild, Bull Brit. Orn. Club, iv. p. xxii (1895).
THIS beautiful species of Si.x'-plumed Bird of Paradise was described by Dr. A. B. Meyer from the
nionntiiins of Ambcrno, in Nortli-westcni New Guinea, to the eastward of Geelvink Bay. Since tlie arrival
of the first specimen in Europe, a considerable number of skins have been received, and the species is now
rejn-esented in most of tlie public and private museums ofEurojjc.
There is no need to eidarge on the dilferenees between Parotia carolai and the other two sjieeies of the
genus Parotia. Besides the ivhite ])lumes on tlie flanks and the difference in tlie cre.st, the six ornamental
plumes on the sides of the crown carry very small rackets.
The form of the crest in this sjiecies is also peculiar, and the skins first sent to Euro]ie had the erestfeathers
so pressed together that the white-tipped plumes hid the median tuft of whitish frontal feathers.
This was pointed out by Dr. Biittikofer in 1895, and an illustration of the true form of the crest was given
by him (J. c.).
P. carolce has the first two primaries sinuated at the end, very much as in P. latoesi, hut with a loop in
the inner web at the commencement of the siiuiation. The tail is more square than in P. luwesi, and not at
all like the graduated tail of sea'pemm.
Adult mule. Velvety black, with |nirplIsh-violet reflections ; wings velvety black, the quills dull black,
tlie first two primaries having a teriiiiiial attenuation ; tail velvety black; sides of the crown velvety
black, the feathers ti])ped with silvery white, which forms a lateral crest; this crest when closed covering
the centre of the crown, which eomniences with a crinkled patch of silvery white feathers on the forehead,
followed by a patch of glittering golden plumes ; on the nape a triangular shield of metallic feathers, first
green, then steel-blue, and lastly pur|ilish violet; on each side of the occiput six thread-like plumes ending
in a very small racket; round the eye golden chestnut ; sides of the neck velvety black, the featiiers
elongated and forming a frill; cheeks golden sienna ; throat dull ashy whitish, mottled with dusky bases
to the feathers, the chin blackish ; oii the fore-neck a triangular shield of metallic lilac with reflections of
golden bronze, the feathers centred with spots of velvety black; remainder of under surface of body black,
the sides of the body ornamented with long white plumes, or half chestnut and half white, while some
are chestnut with black centres ; under wing-coverts black, with white and chestnut streaks. Total length
11 inches, eulmen 0-75, wing (i'S, tail 2'G, tarsus 2.
The female has not as yet been described, but it is evidently a reddish-brown bird, barred with black, to
judge from the plumage of the young male, wliich has the breast reddish brown, crossed with black bars.
The Plate rcjirescuts an adult male and a young male, drawn from sjiecimens in the British Museum.
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