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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 extensible； but flat and little fibrous at the end； exactly like the true Paradiseas。
In the island of Salwatty； the natives search in the forests till they find the sleeping place of this bird； which they know by seeing its dung upon the ground。 It is generally in a low bushy tree。 At night they climb up the trap； and either shoot the birds with blunt arrows； or even catch them alive with a cloth。 In New Guinea they are caught by placing snares on the trees frequented by them； in the same way as the Red Paradise birds are caught in Waigiou； and which has already been described at page 362。
The great Epimaque； or Long…tailed Paradise Bird （Epimachus magnus）； is another of these wonderful creatures； only known by the imperfect skins prepared by the natives。 In its dark velvety plumage； glowed with bronze and purple； it resembles the Seleucides alba； but it bears a magnificent tail more than two feet long； glossed on the upper surface with the most intense opalescent blue。 Its chief ornament； however； consists in the group of broad plumes which spring from the sides of the breast； and which are dilated at the extremity； and banded with the most vivid metallic blue and green。 The bill is long and curved； and the feet black； and similar to those of the allied forms。 The total length of this fine bird is between three and four feet。
This splendid bird inhabits the mountains of New Guinea； in the same district with the Superb and the Six…shafted Paradise Birds； and I was informed is sometimes found in the ranges near the coast。 I was several times assured by different natives that this bird makes its nest in a hole under ground； or under rocks； always choosing a place with two apertures； so that it may enter at one and go out at the other。 This is very unlike what we should suppose to be the habits of the bird； but it is not easy to conceive how the story originated if it is not true； and all travellers know that native accounts of the habits of animals； however strange they may seem； almost invariably turn out to be correct。
The Scale…breasted Paradise Bird （Epimachus magnificus of Cuvier） is now generally placed with the Australian Rifle birds in the genus Ptiloris。 Though very beautiful； these birds are less strikingly decorated with accessory plumage than the other species we have been describing； their chief ornament being a more or less developed breastplate of stiff metallic green feathers； and a small tuft of somewhat hairy plumes on the sides of the breast。 The back and wings of this species are of an intense velvety black； faintly glossed in certain lights with rich purple。 The two broad middle tail feathers are opalescent green…blue with a velvety surface； and the top of the head is covered with feathers resembling scales of burnished steel。 A large triangular space covering the chin； throat； and breast； is densely scaled with feathers； having a steel…blue or green lustre； and a silky feel。 This is edged below with a narrow band of black； followed by shiny bronzy green； below which the body is covered with hairy feathers of a rich claret colour； deepening to black at the tail。 The tufts of side plumes somewhat resemble those of the true Birds of Paradise； but are scanty； about as long as the tail； and of a black colour。 The sides of the head are rich violet； and velvety feathers extend on each side of the beak over the nostrils。
I obtained at Dorey a young male of this bird； in a state of plumage which is no doubt that of the adult female； as is the case in all the allied species。 The upper surface； wings； and tail are rich reddish brown； while the under surface is of a pale ashy colour； closely barred throughout with narrow wavy black bands。 There is also a pale banded stripe over the eye； and a long dusky stripe from the gape down each side of the neck。 This bird is fourteen inches long； whereas the native skins of the adult male are only about ten inches； owing to the way in which the tail is pushed in； so as to give as much prominence as possible to the ornamental plumage of the breast。
At Cape York； i