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of the highest trees, as Dr. Walhice observed in the otiier species, and as I also remarked in my loriner
ex])edition."
Mr. A. P. Goodivin, who aeeonipaiiied the Macgregor E.xpcdition, says t " Raggi's Paraihse-hird (Paradlsea
raggmmi) was found on the lower ranges of the nmuntains, and is rarely ever seen above an altitude of
.'SOOO feet. One evening I observed a number of this species flying from one tree to another, evidently
feeding and dancing, as I am told is their habit. P. raggiana lives on fruit, which generally grows on high
trees in l'a|iua; and as nature has provided these birds witli a thick skin to keep their long plumage from
fidling ont, it requires a strong charge of shot to bring them to the ground. It is to be regretted that
the long red plumes soon lose their brightness after death."
The following note is taken from Messrs. Chalmers and Wyatt's'Adventures in New G u i n e aOn e
n)orning we luid camped on a si)ur of the Oweji Stanley Range, and being up early, to enjoy the cool
atmosphere, I saw on one of the clumps of trees close by six Birds of Paradise, four cocks and two hens.
The hens were sitting quietly on a branch, and the four cocks, dressed in their very best, their ruffs of green
mid yellow stmuling out, giving them a large handsome appearance about the head and neck, their long
llovving plumes so arranged that every feather seemed combed out, mid the long wires stretched well out
behind, were dancing in a circle round them. It was an interesting sight; first one then miothcr would
advance a little nearer to a hen, and she, coquette-like, would retire a little, iiretcnding not to care for any
advances. A shot was fired, contrary to my expressed wish ; there was a strange commotion, and tivo of the
cocks flew away, the others and the hens remained. Soon the two returned, and again the dance began and
continued long. As I had strictly forbidden any more shooting, all fear was gone ; and so, after a rest, the
males came a little nearer to the dark brown and certainly not pretty liens. Quarrelling ensued and in the
end all six birds (lew away.
"Passing through a forest at the back of the Astrolabe, I saw several more engaged as above; our
ajiproacb startled them, aLid away they flew.
" Anxious to taste the flesh, I had one cooked after being skinned ; but, although boiled for several hours,
it was as tough as leather, and the soup not much to our taste. Fortunately we had other things for dinner,
so put the paradise-dish aside."
Mr. Philip Crowley possesses an egg of this Bird of Paradise, procured by Mr. Goldie in South-eastern
New Guinea. It is of tlie usual type of the eggs of Paradisea, and similar to those of P. apoda figured by
Dr. A. B. Meyer (Zeitsehr. ges. Orn. i. Taf. xvii. fig. 2). Mr. Goldie supplied the following note to
Mr. Crowley:—" This bird inhabits the entire length of British New Guinea towards the east, being often
found close to the sea-coast. In the Australian Flora district, around Port Moresby, it is more retired, not
heiu" found under 1500 feet elevation, probably from not meetiLig with its ordinary food, as it is very dry in
this district at one season of the year. They are most abundant at an elevation of from 2000 to 3000 feet
above the sea, but above that altitude are rarely found. In the morning they congregate in the very tallest
and largest trees of the district, selecting certain ones about half a mile apart, and here they disport
themselves, dancing and strutting with outstretched plumes till about 8 A.M., when they leave to feed. All
day they continue to shout, but do not keep in Hocks. They retm-n to the same trees an hour or two
before sunset, and continue dancing and shouting often till quite dark.
" T h e ornamental plumage is assumed about the end of April or in May, and is retained for six or seven
months. The nesting-season is in June and July. I tliink that the reason the nests have not been got
before was owing to tlie mistaken idea that the bird nested in very high trees, such as those in which they
assendile, hut the truth is that they mostly build in shrubs at about fifteen or twenty feet above the ground.
" There was only one egg in the nest, and this, so the natives say, is almost invariably the case, though
soLnetimes two, and on very rare occasions three, eggs are found. I discovered several nests with one young
bird in each."
The following descriptions are taken froLn my ' Catalogue of 151rds ' ; —
Adult male, HeafI and neck all round straw-bidT, the feathers close-set and of a velvety texture; a frontal
band and checks, ear-coverts, and throat, briiiht metallic green, the feathers velvety to the touch, this green
])atch leaving a narrow baud of straw-bulT plumes across the lower throat; forehead aj)j)earing black in
certain lights ; chin velvety greenish black, contrasting with the throat; entire back ruddy chestnut-brown,
the wings slightly ¡mler than the back and not so glossy, the shafts of the quills bright reddish, the least wingcoverts
broiully edged with straw-bulT; tail ruddy brown, with red shafts like the quills, the two centre feathers
elongated into two long thread-like shafts 20 inches in length ; fore-neck and chest velvety purplish brown,
forming a small shield; rest of under surface ruddy brown, rather paler on the abdmneu and under taiU
coverts, the flank-feathers elongated into two large tnfts of plumes of a brilliant crimson, the ends of these
plumes paler and whity brown, the barhules being lax near the end of these long plumes ; under wing,
coverts and inner lining of quills ruddy brown : " bill pearly grey ; feet leaden grey, tinged with reddish ;
iris yellow" (jyAlbertii). Total length 13-5 inches, cuhnen I'o, wing 0-9, tail ,5-4, tarsus 1-85.
Adult female. General colour above dull ruddy brown, inehiding tlie wings and tail; hinder ]iart of crown,
hind-neck, and sides of the latter dull straw-buff; fore part of crown-fcathers round the eye, sides of face,
throat, and breast deep pur])lish brown ; rest of under surface very pale ruddy brown, including the under
wing- and under tail-coverts: bill pearly grey; feet plumbeous; iris yellow. Total length 12-5 inches,
cnhnen 1*4, wing ()'15, tail 5, tarsus 1'5.
Young male. Similar to the adult female, but much richer brown.
A male shot on Mount Epa on the 23rd of April begins to show indications of the approaching bright
plumage on the head and throat.
The Plate represents the male bird, the front figure being of about the size of life.