OCR Text |
Show 1885.] DURING THE VOYAGE OF THE YACHT ' MARCHESA. 651 body. He then gives it a sudden snap with the beak, throws in the air, catches it lengthwise, and it is out of sight in an instant. In this operation he displays to advantage the lovely colouring of the inside of the mouth and throat. The only note he has as yet uttered in confinement is a single unmelodious croak." From the above series and from some native-prepared skins in m y possession, the change to adult plumage seems to be thus acquired. The head first assumes its black plumes, with darkening of the feathers, from within outwards, on the neck ; the shield appearing gradually meanwhile. The neck now gets darker, and the wing-feathers begin to be tinged with violet, apparently commencing with the secondaries. As yet the lower breast and abdomen have remained unchanged, except that on the flanks the feathers are more plumose. In the next stage the upper parts, head, neck, and breast are complete, the wings tolerably so, while the tail is tinged with violet. The subalar plumes have appeared, but are short, of a dull buff, and barred with brown, though the wires are almost as long as in the adult, but are black with pale tips. The breast is still almost unchanged, except that it is somewhat yellower. The final change that appears to take place is the assumption of the yellow on the breast and plumes, and the deep violet-black tail. The native name for this bird in Salwatti and the Rajah ampat generally is " Palengo." 158. PARADISEA MINOR, Shaw. Paradisea minor, Salvad. op. cit. vol. ii. p. 577. a-z. 3 • Near Ansus, Jobi. a'-p. Jr. 3 • Near Ansus. q'. Sex. incert. Near Ansus. r'-b". 3. Dorei Bay. c"-e." Jr. Mysol. Iris lemon-yellow, with a tinge of green. This green shade is sufficiently well marked during life, but fades immediately after death, when the iris appears yellow. Feet and tarsus bluish slate ; bill almost lavender. Length of adult Jobi males, without the central tail-feathers, 36*7-41*2 centims. ; wing 19*2-20*9. The above birds, which are only a part of the whole series collected during the voyage of the ' Marchesa,' demonstrate well the gradual change from immature to adult plumage. The young birds in first plumage exactly resemble the females, but in a short time the purity of the white on the under surface and a marked increase in size render apparent the difference in sex. The yellow of the scapulars becomes more marked, and the green of the throat and yellow of the head begin to appear simultaneously. This green is assumed by the gradual tipping of each feather with that colour (in the adult the apex only of each feather is green), while on the head the brown feathers gradually become yellow from beneath. The plumage of the head and throat having become complete, the two median rectrices begin to elongate, and the lower part of the throat becomes tinged with chestnut. At a further stage |