A smaller variety, by some regarded as a distinct spe cies, termed Minor, is found in the Papua Islands.
P. rubra, Cuv. &c.; Red Bird of Paradise. Side fea thers red ; shafts broad, and concave on one side. Length, from the extremity of the beak to that of the tail, about nine inches, and to that of the side feathers, fourteen or fifteen. Another elegant species, and presumed to inhabit the same regions with the preceding.
P. alba, Cuv. &c.; Falcinellus resplendescens, Vieill. It Bird of Paradise. Side feathers white, tinted with yellow. The filaments issue, not from the rump, but from the extremities of the side feathers, and are of the strength and thickness of a hot-se's hair, about ten inches long, nearly naked, and twisted in different directions. The length of the bird, from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail, is nine inches and a half. The primary quill feathers are conformable to those of the other species, but the accidental circumstance of their being wanting in the specimen in the Parisian Museum, misled M. Cuvier, who represents them as short, and far less numerous than in the other birds of paradise.
P. regia, Lin. &c.; Cicinurus regius. Vieill. Royal Bird of Paradise, or King Paradise Bird. Red Chesnut, with a golden green pectoral band ; the two middle tail feathers filiform, with lunated feathered tips. The smallest of the tribe not exceeding the size of a lark, and usually measuring five inches, or five inches and a half, in length, without reckoning the two middle tail feathers, which are about six inches long, in the form of naked shafts, divari eating as they extend, and each terminating in a moderate ly broad golden green web, rising from one side only of the shaft, and disposed into a flat spiral, of nearly two convolutions. It is a scarce and shy bird, not associating
with its congeners, nor perching on tall trees, but flitting from bush to bush, in quest of wild berries. It occurs in the islands of the Indian Ocean, and returns to New Gui nea in the rainy season.
P. magnifica, Lath. &c.; illagnificent Bird of Para dise. Chesnut coloured above, shining green beneath, each side of the neck tufted with yellow plumes. The general shape of this singular and splendid species, con siderably resembles that of P. major, to which it is some what inferior in size.
P. sexsetacea, Lath. & Shaw.; P. aurea, Gmel.; Paro tia sexsetacea, Vieill. Six-shafted, or Golden-breasted Bird of Paradise. Velvet-black, hind-head and breast gold-green, side feathers lengthened, and loose-webbed, and the head furnished on each side with three naked shafts, five or six inches in length, and terminating in broad oval webs. This, which is also a gorgeous spe cies, and from ten to eleven inches in length, is said to inhabit New Guinea.
P. su/terba, Lath. Scc. Sonhorina sujierba, Vieill. Su perb Bird of Paradise. Black, with a wing-like series of feathers on each side of the body, and bright green pec toral plumes, diverging and lengthening on each side. The predominant colour is black, with green reflexions; but the bird may be at once discriminated by the sem blance of a forked tail, hanging from the breast, and pro duced by a band of blue-green feathers. It inhabits that part of New Guinea called Serghile, and can seldom be found entire ; for the natives tear off the wings and tail, dry the birds in smoke, and put them in bamboos to carry them to market.