MANUCODIA CHALYB EA, Boda.

Green Manucode.

Blue-green Paradise-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn. vol. ii. p. 482. sp. 7 (1782).

Manucodia chalybea, Bodd. Tabl. Plan. Enl. d Hist. Nat. de Danbent. (1783) —Elliot, Mon. of the Paradiseid:
Re cars), ; Dae i 1e Paradiseide,

Paradisea viridis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. pt. 1. p. 402. sp. 8 (1788).

Paradisea chalybea, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol, i. p- 197. sp. 10 (1790).

Le Chahibé, Vieill. Ois. Dor. vol. ii. p- 24, pl. 10 (1802).—Levaill. Ois. de Par

Cracticus chalybeus, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. vol. v. p- 355 (1816).

Phonygama chalybea, Less. Trait. Ornith. p- 344. sp. 1 (1831).

Phonygama viridis, Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. ii. p. 303. sp. 1 (1849).—Bon. Consp. Gen. Av. p- 368 (1850).—

Rosenb. Journ. fur Orn. 1864, p. 122.

Manucodia viridis, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 436.

Chalybea viridis, Schleg. Tijdsch. Dierk. pt. v. p. 49.

ad. p. 64, pl. 23 (1806).

 

A exance at the above list of synonyms will show that this species has been known to naturalists for
nearly a hundred years. Formerly all the skins arrived without either feet or wings, like many other New-
Guinea birds ; latterly, however, perfect specimens have come to hand, those appendages not having been
removed. ‘That this species is a true Bird of Paradise all must now admit, whatever opinions have been
entertained to the contrary. We have now at least five species of the genus Manucodia, and are living
in hope that we may not long be kept in the dark as to their habits and economy, which are likely to be
characterized by some peculiarities.

The following is taken from Mr. Elliot’s ‘Monograph of the Paradiseide :’—

“ The Green Manucode resembles in some respects its relative the JZ atra, but may be distinguished in
nearly all stages of plumage by the frizzled state of the feathers upon the head and neck ; in some speci-
mens, indeed, these peculiarly formed feathers encroach upon the upper part of the back and breast; and
they frequently possess variegated colours of different metallic hues.

“Feathers of the head short, closely pressed together, elongated over the eyes into diminutive tufts,
black, with the tips a bright metallic blue; throat, neck, and upper part of breast light green, the feathers
on the breast appearing as though the tips were frizzled. Back and wings bright metallic purplish blue,
very glossy upon the secondaries; primaries rich brown ; underparts similar to the back, but the blue not so
rich. ‘Tail purplish blue like the wings. Bill black ; feet black.”

A still more perfect description taken from Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum,
ui. p. 182, is as follows :—

“ Adult Male.—Head purple, the feathers compressed and close-set; the nape slightly washed with oe
greenish, as also the hinder neck and mantle; back rich purple, the feathers of the interscapolany region
rather recurved ; wings and tail rich purple, the inner webs of the feathers blackish, the outer wing-coverts
somewhat shaded with steel-black ; sides of the face and neck deep green, the feathers compressed and
velvety like those of the crown; those of the chin, throat, and fore neck extending onto the sides ol the
neck, crinkled and curled and of an oily-green colour; the rest of the under surface deep pulls, the feathiens
being tipped with this colour, less broadly on the vent and under tail-coverts, a a of ue) Oe
plumes with a slight greenish reflection; under wing-coverts black, ue outer edge oh aye wing Wiese
with green; bill and legs black. Total length 14°5 inches, ee 1:65, wing 6:85, es D 2 oe 1-55.

“Hab. New Guinea. Regions near the coasts and mountain-ranges of the interior (Rosenberg).

The figure on the Plate is of the size of life.