ASTRAPIA NIGRA.

Gorget Paradise-bird.

Gorget Paradise Bird, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. p. 478, pl. 20 (1782).

Paradisea nigra, Gm. S. N. i. p. 401 (1788, ex Lath.).

Paradisea gularis, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p- 196 (1790).—Shaw, Gen, Zool. vii. pp. 69, 70 (1809).

Le Hausse-col doré, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor. ii. p. 22, pls. 8, 9 (1802).

La Pie de Paradis, ou ? Incomparable, Levaill. Hist. Nat. Ois. Parad. i. pls. 20, 22 (1806).

Astrapia gularis, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. iii. p. 37 (1816).—Id. Gal. Ois. i, p. 169, pl. 107 (1825) Less.
Traité d’Orn. p. 338 (1831).—Id. Ois. Parad. Syn. p. 18 (1835).—Id. Hist, Nat. p. 106, pls. 21-23.—
Schleg. J. f. O. 1861, p. 386.—Beccari, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. vii. p. 711.—Sclater, Ibis, 1876, p. 24 9.

Astrapia nigra, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 75 (1820).—Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 263 (1846).—Bp. Consp. i. p. 414
(1850).—Gray, P.Z.S. 1851, p. 436.—Wallace, P. Z.S. 1862, p- 154.—Finsch, Neu-Guinea, eles
(1865).—Wallace, Malay Archip. ii. p. 257 (1869).—Elliot, Monogr. Parad. pl. ix. (1873).—Salvad.
Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. ix. p. 190 (1876).—Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 165 (1877).

Epimachus niger, Schlegel, Mus. P.-B., Coraces, p. 94 (1867)

 

Varrous authors have endeavoured to accomplish the difficult task of classifying and defining the limits of the
family Paradiseide ; and I can only think of two other groups which present the same obstacles to classification,
namely:—the Hornbills, where the shape of the casque is considered by some naturalists to be of generic, by
others of specific importance only; and the Malkoha Cuckoos (Phenicophaine), where the shape and
structure of the nostril varies so much as to induce some naturalists to place each species ina separate genus:
whilst by others the form of the nostril is reckoned to be only a specific character. Mr. D. G. Elliot placed
the Bower-birds along with the Paradiseide ; but Mr. Sharpe has not included them, and I learn from him
that they will be placed near the Thrushes in his arrangement of the class Aves. Professor Schlegel,
again, places the present bird in the genus Lpimachus near E. speciosus ; but I think that its stout bill,
so different from the sickle-shaped slender bills of the Epimachi, shows that the place of Astrapia is near
to the true Paradise-birds, though its long tail is very different in form from that of the other stout-
billed genera. I must say, however, that it seems to me impossible to keep such widely different forms of
birds under one genus; and I cannot help thinking that a family which includes such widely different forms
of birds as Astrapia, Lophorina, and the true Paradisee, may yet prove (strange as this may appear to most
persons) to be the proper recipient for the Lyre-birds (Menura) of Australia.

As in the case of the other Birds of Paradise, little is known of the habits of this grand bird; but Dr.
Beccari, who has shot the species in the Arfak Mountains, has given the following short account of its
capture :—* Epimachus maximus and Astrapia gularis are only found on the highest and most difficult peaks
of Mount Arfak, nearly always above 6000 feet elevation. Specimens in dark plumage are common
enough; but those which have attained perfect plumage are rare, perhaps because they take some years
to acquire it. Both of them live on the fruits of certaiu Pandanacez, and especially on those of the
Preycinetie@, which are epiphytous on the trunks of trees. The irides of the large Epimachus are dark brick-
red, those of the Astrapia almost black; the neck-feathers of the latter are erectable, and expand into a
magnificent collar round the head. The first day I went out at Atam, on June 23, I got both these species
(two specimens of each), besides one Drepanornis albertisi, three Paradigalle, one Parotia, and several other
wonderful kinds of birds. It was a memorable day, because I ascended one of the peaks, and was surprised
to find myself surrounded by four or five species of Vaccinium and Rhododendron, I also found an
Umbellifer (a Drymis) and various other plants common to the mountains of Java, and there were also some
mosses a foot and a half in height.”

The habitat of this Bird of Paradise is the north-west of New Guinea, though it is said, on native report,
to be an inhabitant of the Island of Jobi.

The following description is taken from Mr. Sharpe’s Catalogue of Birds.—‘ Adult male. General
colour above velvety black, with a purplish gloss ; the wings black externally, glossed with purple; tail-feathers
black, with wavy lines of dusky black under certain lights, the two centre feathers very long and glossed
with rich purple; feathers of the head black, dense and velvety in texture, with a steel-blue gloss; from the
nape a shield of golden green feathers springs; and the feathers of the hind neck are very long and tipped

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