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s to give as much prominence as possible to the ornamental plumage of the breast。
At Cape York； in North Australia； there is a closely allied species； Ptiloris alberti； the female of which is very similar to the young male bird here described。 The beautiful Rifle Birds of Australia； which much resemble those Paradise Birds； are named Ptiloris paradiseus and Ptiloris victories； The Scale…breasted Paradise Bird seems to be confined to the mainland of New Guinea； and is less rare than several of the other species。
There are three other New Guinea birds which are by some authors classed with the Birds of Paradise； and which； being almost equally remarkable for splendid plumage； deserve to be noticed here。 The first is the Paradise pie （Astrapia nigra of Lesson）； a bird of the size of Paradises rubra； but with a very long tail； glossed above with intense violet。 The back is bronzy black； the lower parts green； the throat and neck bordered with loose broad feathers of an intense coppery hue； while on the top of the head and neck they are glittering emerald green； All the plumage round the head is lengthened and erectile； and when spread out by the living bird must lave an effect hardly surpassed by any of the true Paradise birds。 The bill is black and the feet yellow。 The Astrapia seems to me to be somewhat intermediate between the Paradiseidae and Epimachidae。
There is an allied species； having a bare carunculated head； which has been called Paradigalla carunculata。 It is believed to inhabit； with the preceding； the mountainous； interior of New Guinea； but is exceedingly rare； the only known specimen being in the Philadelphia Museum。
The Paradise Oriole is another beautiful bird； which is now sometimes classed with the Birds of Paradise。 It has been named Paradises aurea and Oriolus aureus by the old naturalists； and is now generally placed in the same genus as the Regent Bird of Australia （Sericulus chrysocephalus）。 But the form of the bill and the character of the plumage seem to me to be so different that it will have to form a distinct genus。 This bird is almost entirely yellow； with the exception of the throat； the tail； and part of the wings and back； which are black； but it is chiefly characterised by a quantity of long feathers of an intense glossy orange colour； which cover its neck down to the middle of the back； almost like the hackles of a game…cock。
This beautiful bird inhabits the mainland of New Guinea； and is also found in Salwatty； but is so rare that I was only able to obtain one imperfect native skin； and nothing whatever is known of its habits。
I will now give a list of all the Birds of Paradise yet known； with the places they are believed to inhabit。
1。 Paradisea apoda （The Great Paradise Bird）。 Aru Islands。
2。 Paradisea papuana （The Lesser Paradise Bird）。 New Guinea； Mysol； Jobie。
3。 Paradisea rubra （The Red Paradise Bird）。 Waigiou；
4。 Cicinnurus regius （The King Paradise Bird）。 New Guinea； Aru Islands； Mysol； Salwatty。
5。 Diphyllodes speciosa （The Magnificent）。 New Guinea； Mysol； Salwatty。
6。 Diphyllodes wilsoni （The Red Magnificent）。 Waigiou。
7。 Lophorina atra （The Superb）。 New Guinea。
8。 Parotia sexpennis （The Golden Paradise Bird）。 New Guinea。
9。 Semioptera wallacei （The Standard Wing）。 Batchian； Gilolo。
10。 Epimachus magnus （The Long…tailed Paradise Bird）。 New Guinea
11。 Seleucides albs （The Twelve…wired Paradise Bird）。New Guinea； Salwatty。
12。 Ptiloris magnifica （The Scale…breasted Paradise Bird）。 New Guinea。
13。 Ptiloris alberti （Prince Albert's Paradise Bird）。 North Australia。
14。 Ptiloris Paradisea （The Rifle Bird）。 East Australia。
15。 Ptiloris victoriae （The Victorian Rifle Bird）。 North…East Australia。
16。 Astrapia nigra （The Paradise Pie）。 New Guinea。
17。 Paradigalla carunculata （The Carunculated Paradise Pie）。 New Guinea。
I8。 （？） Sericulus aureus （The Paradise Oriole）。 New Guinea； Salwatty。
We see； therefore； that of the eighteen species which seem to deserve a place among the Birds of Paradise； eleven are known to inhabit the great island of New Guinea； eight of which are entirely confined to it and the hardly separated island of Salwatty。 But if we consider those islands which are now united to New Guinea by a shallow sea to really form a part of it； we shall find that fourteen of the Paradise Birds belong to that country； while three inhabit the northern and eastern parts of Australia； and one the Moluccas。 All the more extraordinary and magnificent species are； however； entirely confined to the Papuan region。
Although I devoted so much time to a search after these wonderful birds； I only succeeded myself in obtaining five species during a residence of many months in the Aru Islands； New Guinea； and Waigiou。 Mr。 Allen's voyage to Mysol did not procure a single additional species； but we both heard of a place called Sorong； on the mainland of New Guinea； near Salwatty； where we were told that all the kinds we desired could be obtained。 We therefore determined that he should visit this place； and endeavour to penetrate into the interior among the natives； who actually shoot and skin the Birds of Paradise。 He went in the small prau I had fitted up at Goram； and through the kind assistance of the Dutch Resident at Ternate； a lieutenant and two soldiers were sent by the Sultan of Tidore to accompany and protect him； and to assist him in getting men and in visiting the interior。
Notwithstanding these precautions； Mr。 Allen met with difficulties in this voyage which we had neither of us encountered before。 To understand these； it is necessary to consider that the Birds of Paradise are an article of commerce； and are the monopoly of the chiefs of the coast villages； who obtain them at a low rate from the mountaineers； and sell them to the Bugis traders。 A portion is also paid every year as tribute to the Sultan of Tidore。 The natives are therefore very jealous of a stranger； especially a European； interfering in their trade； and above all of going into the interior to deal with the mountaineers themselves。 They of course think he will raise the prices in the interior； and lessen the supply on the coast； greatly to their disadvantage； they also think their tribute will be raised if a European takes back a quantity of the rare sorts； and they have besides a vague and very natural dread of some ulterior object in a white man's coming at so much trouble and expense to their country only to get Birds of Paradise； of which they know he can buy plenty （of the common yellow ones which alone they value） at Ternate； Macassar； or Singapore。
It thus happened that when Mr。 Allen arrived at Sorong； and explained his intention of going to seek Birds of Paradise in the interior； innumerable objections were raised。 He was told it was three or four days' journey over swamps and mountains； that the mountaineers were savages and cannibals； who would certainly kill him； and； lastly； that not a man in the village could be found who dare go with him。 After some days spent in these discussions； as he still persisted in making the attempt； and showed them his authority from the Sultan of Tidore to go where be pleased and receive every assistance； they at length provided him with a boat to go the first part of the journey up a river； at the same time； however； they sent private orders to the interior villages to refuse to sell any provisions； so as to compel him to return。 On arriving at the village where they were to leave the river and strike inland； the coast people returned； leaving Mr。 Allen to get on as he could。 Here he called on the Tidore lieutenant to assist him； and procure men as guides and to carry his baggage to the villages of the mountaineers。 This； however； was not so easily done。 A quarrel took place； and the natives； refusing to obey the imperious orders of the lieutenant； got out their knives and spears to attack him and his soldiers； and Mr。 Allen himself was obliged to interfere to protect those who had come to guard him。 The respect due to a white man and the timely distribution of a few presents prevailed； and； on showing the knives； hatchets； and beads he was willing to give to those who accompanied him； peace was restored； and t