os. Up

I had great difficulty, however, in supplying them with insect food,

gies H for in the Peninsular and Oriental
¢ PS COC “nes wer searc * vas , settine ire 3 ii
steamers cockroaches were scarce, and it was only by setting traps in the Store-rooms, and by

ure a few dozen of these creatur
enough for a single meal. At Malta, where I stayed a fortnight, I

hunting
. e :
very hour of the night in the forecastle, that I could sec

every eg ; c es, scarcely
got plenty of cockroaches from a
» aS provision for the voyage home. We
came through the Mediterranean in March, with a very cold wind;

bakehouse, and when I left took with me several biscuit-tins full

and the only place on board a mail-
xposed to a strong current of

never seemed to feel the cold.
journey from Marseilles to Paris it was a sharp frost, yet the

steamer where their large cage could be accommodated was e air down a
c c
hatchway which stood open day and night, yet the birds During the night

y arrived in London in perfect health

, and lived
in the Zoological Gardens for one, and two years, often displ

aying their brilliant plumes to the admiration of
the spectators. It is evident, therefore, that the Paradise-birds require air and exercise rather than
devoted to them, or if they could be turned
reat Palm House at Kew, they would live

heat; and I feel sure that if a good-sized conservatory could be
loose in the tropical department of the Crystal Palace, or the G
this country for many years.”

The late Mr. A. D. Bartlett contributed the following note to Mr. Elliot’s monograph :—* When the
two Birds of Paradise first arrived at the Gardens, in April 1862, their plumes were quite short, only
about five inches long. The birds had moulted, and the new feathers were growing in a thick bunch a
each side below their wings. They appeared in good health, and were active and lively.

in

I soon ascertained
ely upon fruit, boiled rice, &c. ;
a little cooked flesh was also acceptable to them. Their mode of hopping about from perch to perch and

clinging to the bars or wires of the cage reminded one of a Jay or Jackdaw.

how fond they were of meal-worms and other insects; and they fed fre

They were fond of a bath,
and were very careful in dressing and drying their fine plumes; these were about two months in growing
to full perfection ; and it was a charming sight to see them when in full plumage. When uttering their
loud call the body was bent forward, the wings spread open and raised up, frequently over their heads,
meeting the plumes, which were spread in the most graceful manner, every feather vibrating in a way that
almost dazzled the sight. During this display the bird would become greatly excited, and sometimes turn
almost under the perch or branch, the head and neck being bent so low down. At this period we found
they would not agree, but attacked each other; and we were therefore obliged toy keep them separated
by a wire division. They hopped about like Jays or Jackdaws, never ran like Starlings or Magpies, and
when on the ground raised the points of the plumes so that they should not touch the earth. They soon
became very tame, and would take food from the hand; and the sight of a Oecd bring them
down from the perch immediately. ‘The moult was extremely rapid, the fine plumes being thrown off in a
few days; and these appeared to grow all at the same time in a bunch. It is therefore certain that these
birds, after they attain the adult plumage, lose it only during the annual moult, like the Peacock and many
other richly ornamented birds.” a

The following descriptions are taken from my third volume of the ‘ Catalogue of ers :— ;

Adult male. A narrow frontal band, lores, cheeks, and throat velvety green, slightly metallic, the
forehead and chin, as well as a spot at the base of the lower mandible, appearing velvety black ; erownl
of head and hind-neck, as well as the sides of the latter, converging towards the lower throat, bright
golden straw-colour, all the plumes velvety in texture; mantle and scapulars dull eo straw-colour,
all the feathers ruddy at the base ; wing-coverts maroon-brown, the least a miasuicd with ae
straw-colour, the median and greater series tipped with golden straw-colour, Ce a double = eee
the wing-quills, which are maroon-brown, as also the owen back, rump, upper ae Ee ae
two centre tail-feathers produced into two long thread-like shafts about 18 eo i ate a a
of body from the throat downwards to the under tail-coverts: ar ae 7 oe e -
two large tufts of plumes, bright yellow for their easel half, white fon a he a eee
the flank-tufts a few rigid blood-red plumes ; under wing-coverts ad inner lining : es . a
like the breast: bill leaden grey; feet black. Total length 14:5 inches, culmen 1°30, wing 7*¥, ,
a ; ‘ rehe: roat which

Adult female. Wants the long flank-plumes and ee ae oe epee a a
are seen in the male. General colour above, including the wings and tail, ma Ss ee
of face, and throat maroon-brown, darker than the back, the hind-neck and mantle dull ochraceous straw

; apna : the throat
: Pee erated thole of the under surface, from
colour, with which also the wing-coverts are washed; the who

; ae anks also slightly washed
downwards, silky white ; thighs pale maroon-brown, the sides of the breast and flank Beals