PAROTIA LAWESI, Ramsay.

Lawes’s Bird of Paradise.

Parotia lawesi, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, x. p. 243 (1885).—Finsch u. Meyer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. ii.
p. 375, pl. xvi. (1885).

 

Tus species represents the Six-plumed Bird of Paradise (P. sexpennis) of North-western New Guinea, in
the Astrolabe Mountains, in the south-eastern portion of that great island. Jt was first met with by
Mr. Hunstein in the Horseshoe range at a height of 7000 feet, and Mr. H. O. Forbes has also come across
the species in the Sogeri district of the Astrolabe range.

As might be expected, the southern bird is closely allied to its north-western representative, but it is,
nevertheless, quite a distinct species. The pectoral shield, when examined in the same light as that of
P. sexpennis, is much more fiery metallic-golden, and shows less of the green shade which is seen in all
specimens of P. sexpennis. ‘The metallic band on the nape is also differently composed, the general effect
being purplish or steel-blue, whereas the centre of this band in P. sexpennis is green. It is true that a
slight greenish tinge can be discovered at the base of the metallic plumes in P. dawes?, but it is of the
faintest possible character. The silvery patch on the crown is differently disposed in the two species, being
fan-shaped in P. sexpennis and not descending to the base of the bill, all the frontal plumes being velvety
black with a brownish gloss, exactly like the rest of the head. The white patch in P. awesi comes to an
obtuse point above the nostrils, and is differently shaped to that of P. sexpenns.

The female of P. dawesi is also distinct from the female of P. seapennis, being rufous underneath with
black bars, while the upper surface is also of a more chestnut tint.

The young male at first resembles the adult female.

The measurements of the pair of P. dawes? in the British Museum are as follows :—

Male. Total length 13 inches, culmen 1°15, wing 6°15, tail 5:0, tarsus 2°15.

Female. ,, e  OLO Fe » 110; ,, 610; 3 45 20:

The figures in the Plate have been drawn from a pair of birds in the British Museum, collected in the
Horseshoe range by Mr. C. Hunstein. The adult male and female are represented of the full size.

[R. B. S.J

S

7)

 

 

re (Aas

$4

oF)
‘

bY)

Ife

a ,

=) She

¥)

‘a
AGS
we

ye

;

eZ
pass

a
LP

Ls

vj
So FO

i

ey

Se f "
PA

vay

aA