PARADISEA RAGGIANA, Sclater.

Marquis de Raggi’s Bird of Paradise.

ae | ee Sclater, P.Z. 5S. 1873, pp. 559, 697.—Elliot, Monogr. Paradis. pl. 3 (1873).—Salvad. Ann
Mus. Civ. Genova, vii. p. 829 (1875).—D’Albertis, P. Z.S. 1875 p. 532 |

 

Taxine it all in all, I consider this the grandest Paradise-bird that has been discovered since Wallac

; : ; e sent
home the startling and singular Semioptera.

; That so large and splendid a species should have remained
totally unknown a to the period of Signor d’Albertis’s visit to the southern parts of New Guinea serves to
show the probability that other treasures remain for future explorers in this great unknown land. When
the rumour first spread abroad that a second red-plumed Bird of Paradise existed, suspicions arose that
these two birds were merely varieties of P. rubra, than which there could be nothing more fallacious, since
it not only differs from that species, but belongs to another section of the Paradiseide, of which P. papuana
and P. apoda are examples.

That the Paradisea raggiana holds a place in the south of New Guinea, as the P. papuana does in the
north, is very evident. It is also quite certain that it is a bird equally common in all the parts yet
visited by Signor d’Albertis, Captain Moresby, and other travellers ; naturalists therefore need not fear
that our collections will long remain without examples. In a note from Signor d’Albertis, addressed to
the Secretary of the Zoological Society of London, published in the ‘ Proceedings’ for 1875, is perhaps
the best description of this bird yet received. He says:—‘‘I was rather fortunate in my excursion into
the mountains ; for I found Paradisea raggiana, and obtained some beautiful specimens in full dress.
In its voice, movements, and attitudes it perfectly resembles the other species of the genus. It feeds on
fruit; and I could find no trace of insects in the seven individuals which I prepared. It inhabits the
dense forest, and is generally found near the ravines—perhaps because the trees on the fruit of which it
feeds prefer the neighbourhood of water. The female is always smaller in size than the male; and I find
this sex less abundant, because, as I believe, it is the season of incubation. The female is more like the
same sex of P. apoda than that of P. papuana. The young male is like the female, but often recognizable
by having distinguishable traces of the yellow collar which in the old male divides the green of the throat
from the breast-feathers. The irides are of a rather bright yellow, and the feet lead-colour with a reddish
tinge. The long flank-feathers in individuals recently killed have a very bright tint, which they lose in a
few days—even in a few hours. The two middle tail-feathers are filiform, as those of P. aqpoda and
P. papuana, and in no stage of development resemble those of P. rubra. These two feathers are not so
long as in P. apoda, and about equal to those of P. papuana. Like its sister species, P. raggiana is an
inquisitive bird, and often approaches from branch to branch within a few yards of the hunter, and remains
motionless for some seconds to observe its pursuer, stretching out its neck, flapping its wings, and emitting
a peculiar cry, upon the sound of which other individuals come forward to join it When one Is wounded
and cries out, many others come forward as if to protect it, and approach quite near, descending fo the
lowest boughs. The adult males frequent the tops of the highest trees, as Mr. Deo in the
other species, and as [I also remarked in my former expedition. As regards the nidification I have as yet
ns of all ages and both sexes were procured. Would that this
letting us know something of the nidification, colouring

ED
iS

A

obtained no information.” Specime
enterprising traveller could set our minds at rest by

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of the eggs, &c.
The following description is from a perfect sp
Total length from bill to tail 14 inches, wing 7, tail 6, tarsi Dum
Bill pale blue ; feet lead-colour with a pinky tint ; forehead and throat beautiful green, almost metallic ;
’ J c J
crown, sides, and neck fine orange-yellow ; this fine yellow

green from the rich maroon of the chest (which is very intense) ; all the upper and under surface reddish

brown, with a distinct mark of yellow on the shoulders; long flank-feathers splendid blood-red, becoming
? oe

f which are dirty white ; the two long filamentous feathers narrow,
alvadori describes the female as beng

ecimen of a male in the possession of Mr. Stone :—

also extends across the throat, separating the

brown towards the ends, the extremities 0
atula like that of P. papuana in form. Count 8
stnut-colour, paler below ; 2
ell as the sides of the latter, yellowish.

and terminating in a sp
‘smaller than the male; of a vinaceous che
of neck, and breast deep chestnut ; occiput and hinder neck, as W
The entire green colour of the forehead and throat is wanting, as we fe ae
ring under the throat, the yellow band across the wing, and the ornaments of the alt © anks.
The figures in the accompanying Plate are both males,

the sinciput, sides of head, fore part
ll as the pale yellowish straw-coloured

that in the foreground being the size of life.