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similar form to that on the breast； but much larger； and of a velvety black colour； glossed with bronze and purple。 The outermost feathers of this shield are half an inch longer than the wing； and when it is elevated it must； in conjunction with the breast shield； completely change the form and whole appearance of the bird。 The bill is black； and the feet appear to be yellow。
This wonderful little bird inhabits the interior of the northern peninsula of New Guinea only。 Neither I nor Mr。 Allen could hear anything of it in any of the islands or on any part of the coast。 It is true that it was obtained from the coast…natives by Lesson； but when at Sorong in 1861； Mr。 Allen learnt that it is only found three days' journey in the interior。 Owing to these 〃Black Birds of Paradise；〃 as they are called； not being so much valued as articles of merchandise； they now seem to be rarely preserved by the natives； and it thus happened that during several years spent on the coasts of New Guinea and in the Moluccas I was never able to obtain a skin。 We are therefore quite ignorant of the habits of this bird； and also of its female； though the latter is no doubt as plain and inconspicuous as in all the other species of this family。
The Golden； or Six…shafted； Paradise Bird； is another rare species； first figured by Buffon； and never yet obtained in perfect condition。 It was named by Boddaert； Paradisea sexpennis； and forms the genus Parotia of Viellot。 This wonderful bird is about the size of the female Paradisea rubra。 The plumage appear； at first sight black； but it glows in certain light with bronze and deep purple。 The throat and breast are scaled with broad flat feathers of an intense golden hue； changing to green and blue tints in certain lights。 On the back of the head is a broad recurved band of feathers； whose brilliancy is indescribable； resembling the sheen of emerald and topaz rather than any organic substance。 Over the forehead is a large patch of pure white feathers； which shine like satin； and from the sides of the head spring the six wonderful feathers from which the bird receives its name。 These are slender wires； six inches long； with a small oval web at the extremity。 In addition to these ornaments； there is also an immense tuft of soft feathers on each side of the breast； which when elevated must entirely hide the wings； and give the bird au appearance of being double its real bulk。 The bill is black； short； and rather compressed； with the feathers advancing over the nostrils； as in Cicinnurus regius。 This singular and brilliant bird inhabits the same region as the Superb Bird of Paradise； and nothing whatever is known about it but what we can derive from an examination of the skins preserved by the natives of New Guinea。
The Standard Wing； named Semioptera wallacei by Mr。 G。 R。 Gray； is an entirely new form of Bird of Paradise； discovered by myself in the island of Batchian； and especially distinguished by a pair of long narrow feathers of a white colour； which spring from among the short plumes which clothe the bend of the wing； and are capable of being erected at pleasure。 The general colour of this bird is a delicate olive…brown； deepening to a loud of bronzy olive in the middle of the back； and changing to a delicate ashy violet with a metallic gloss； on the crown of the head。 The feathers； which cover the nostrils and extend half…way down the beak； are loose and curved upwards。 Beneath； it is much more beautiful。 The scale…like feathers of the breast are margined with rich metallic blue…green； which colour entirely covers the throat and sides of the neck； as well as the long pointed plumes which spring from the sides of the breast； and extend nearly as far as the end of the wings。 The most curious feature of the bird； however； and one altogether unique in the whole class； is found in the pair of long narrow delicate feathers which spring from each wing close to the bend。 On lifting the wing…coverts they are seen to arise from two tubular horny sheaths； which diverge from near the point of junction of the carpal bones。 As already described at p。 41； they are erectile； and when the bird is excited are spread out at right angles to the wing and slightly divergent。 They are from six to six and a half inches long； the upper one slightly exceeding the lower。 The total length of the bird is eleven inches。 The bill is horny olive； the iris deep olive； and the feet bright orange。
The female bird is remarkably plain； being entirely of a dull pale earthy brown； with only a slight tinge of ashy violet on the head to relieve its general monotony； and the young males exactly resemble her。 （See figures at p。 41。）
This bird； frequents the lower trees of the forests； and； like most Paradise Birds； is in constant motionflying from branch to branch； clinging to the twigs and even to the smooth and vertical trunks almost as easily as a woodpecker。 It continually utters a harsh； creaking note； somewhat intermediate between that of Paradisea apoda； and the more musical cry of Cicinnurus regius。 The males at short intervals open and flutter their wings； erect the long shoulder feathers； and spread out the elegant green breast shields。
The Standard Wing is found in Gilolo as well as in Batchian； and all the specimens from the former island have the green breast shield rather longer； the crown of the head darker violet； and the lower parts of the body rather more strongly scaled with green。 This is the only Paradise Bird yet found in the Moluccan district； all the others being confined to the Papuan Islands and North Australia。
We now come to the Epimachidae； or Long…billed Birds of Paradise； which； as before stated； ought not to be separated from the Paradiseidae by the intervention of any other birds。 One of the most remarkable of these is the Twelve…wired Paradise Bird； Paradises alba of Blumenbach； but now placed in the genus Seleucides of Lesson。
This bird is about twelve inches long； of which the compressed and curved beak occupies two inches。 The colour of the breast and upper surface appears at first sight nearly black； but a close examination shows that no part of it is devoid of colour； and by holding it in various lights； the most rich and glowing tints become visible。 The head； covered with short velvety feathers； which advance on the chic much further than on the upper part of the beak； is of a purplish bronze colour； the whole of the back and shoulders is rich bronzy green； while the closed wings and tail are of the most brilliant violet purple； all the plumage having a delicate silky gloss。 The mass of feathers which cover the breast is really almost black； with faint glosses of green and purple； but their outer edges are margined with glittering bands of emerald green。 The whole lower part of the body is rich buffy yellow； including the tuft of plumes which spring from the sides； and extend an inch and a half beyond the tail。 When skins are exposed to the light the yellow fades into dull white； from which circumstance it derived its specific name。 About six of the innermost of these plumes on each side have the midrib elongated into slender black wires； which bend at right angles； and curve somewhat backwards to a length of about ten inches； forming one of those extraordinary and fantastic ornaments with which this group of birds abounds。 The bill is jet black； and the feet bright yellow。 （See lower figure on the plate at the beginning of this chapter）。
The female； although not quite so plain a bird as in some other species； presents none of the gay colours or ornamental plumage of the male。 The top of the head and back of the neck are black； the rest of the upper parts rich reddish brown； while the under surface is entirely yellowish ashy； somewhat blackish on the breast； and crossed throughout with narrow blackish wavy bands。
The Seleucides alba is found in the island of Salwatty； and in the north…western parts of New Guinea； where it frequents flowering trees； especially sago…palms and pandani； sucking the flowers； round and beneath which its unusually large and powerful feet enable it to cling。 Its motions are very rapid。 It seldom rests more than a few moments on one tree； after which it flies straight off； and with great swiftness； to another。 It has a loud shrill cry； to be heard a long way； consisting of 〃Cah； cah；〃 repeated five or six times in a descending scale； and at the last note it generally flies away。 The males are quite solitary in their habits； although； perhaps； they assemble at pertain times like the true Paradise Birds。 All the specimens shot and opened by my assistant Mr。 Allen； who obtained this fine bird during his last voyage to New Guinea； had nothing in their stomachs but a brown sweet liquid； probably the nectar of the flowers on which they had been feeding。 They certainly； however； eat both fruit and insects； for a specimen which I saw alive on board a Dutch steamer ate cockroaches and papaya fruit voraciously。 This bird had the curious habit of resting at noon with the bill pointing vertically upwards。 It died on the passage to Batavia； and I secured the body and formed a skeleton； which shows indisputably that it is really a Bird of Paradise。 The tongue is very long and extensib