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hatchway which stood open day and night； yet the birds never seemed to feel the cold。 During the night journey from Marseilles to Paris it was a sharp frost； yet they arrived in London in perfect health； and lived in the Zoological Gardens for one； and two years； often displaying their beautiful plumes to the admiration of the spectators。 It is evident； therefore； that the Paradise Birds are very hardy； and require air and exercise rather than heat； and I feel sure that if a good sized conservators‘ could be devoted to them； or if they could be turned loose in the tropical department of the Crystal Palace or the Great Palm House at Kew； they would live in this country for many years。
The Red Bird of Paradise （Paradisea rubra of Viellot）； though allied to the two birds already described； is much more distinct from them than they are from each other。 It is about the same size as Paradisea papuana （13 to 14 inches long）； but differs from it in many particulars。 The side plumes； instead of being yellow； are rich crimson； and only extend about three or four inches beyond the end of the tail； they are somewhat rigid； and the ends are curved downwards and inwards； and are tipped with white。 The two middle tail feathers； instead of being simply elongated and deprived of their webs； are transformed into stiff black ribands； a quarter of an inch wide； but curved like a split quill； and resembling thin half cylinders of horn or whalebone。 When a dead bird is laid on its back； it is seen that these ribands take a curve or set； which brings them round so as to meet in a double circle on the neck of the bird； but when they hang downwards； during life； they assume a spiral twist； and form an exceedingly graceful double curve。 They are about twenty…two inches long； and always attract attention as the most conspicuous and extraordinary feature of the species。 The rich metallic green colour of the throat extends over the front half of the head to behind the eyes； and on the forehead forms a little double crest of scaly feathers； which adds much to the vivacity of the bird's aspect。 The bill is gamboge yellow； and the iris blackish olive。 （Figure at p。 353。）
The female of this species is of a tolerably uniform coffee…brown colour； but has a blackish head； and the nape neck； and shoulders yellow； indicating the position of the brighter colours of the male。 The changes of plumage follow the same order of succession as in the other species； the bright colours of the head and neck being first developed； then the lengthened filaments of the tail； and last of all； the red side plumes。 I obtained a series of specimens； illustrating the manner in which the extraordinary black tail ribands are developed； which is very remarkable。 They first appear as two ordinary feathers； rather shorter than the rest of the tail； the second stage would no doubt be that shown in a specimen of Paradisea apoda； in which the feathers are moderately lengthened； and with the web narrowed in the middle； the third stage is shown by a specimen which has part of the midrib bare； and terminated by a spatulate web； in another the bare midrib is a little dilated and semi…cylindrical； and the terminal web very small； in a fifth； the perfect black horny riband is formed； but it bears at its extremity a brown spatulate web； while in another a portion of the black riband itself bears； for a portion of its length； a narrow brown web。 It is only after these changes are fully completed that the red side plumes begin to appear。
The successive stages of development of the colours and plumage of the Birds of Paradise are very interesting； from the striking manner in which they accord with the theory of their having been produced by the simple action of variation； and the cumulative power of selection by the females； of those male birds which were more than usually ornamental。 Variations of _colour_ are of all others the most frequent and the most striking； and are most easily modified and accumulated by man's selection of them。 We should expect； therefore； that the sexual differences of _colour_ would be those most early accumulated and fixed； and would therefore appear soonest in the young birds； and this is exactly what occurs in the Paradise Birds。 Of all variations in the _form_ of birds' feathers； none are so frequent as those in the head and tail。 These occur more； or less in every family of birds； and are easily produced in many domesticated varieties； while unusual developments of the feathers of the body are rare in the whole class of birds； and have seldom or never occurred in domesticated species。 In accordance with these facts； we find the scale…formed plumes of the throat； the crests of the head； and the long cirrhi of the tail； all fully developed before the plumes which spring from the side of the body begin to mane their appearance。 If； on the other hand； the male Paradise Birds have not acquired their distinctive plumage by successive variations； but have been as they are mow from the moment they first appeared upon the earth； this succession becomes at the least unintelligible to us； for we can see no reason why the changes should not take place simultaneously； or in a reverse order to that in which they actually occur。
What is known of the habits of this bird； and the way in which it is captured by the natives； have already been described at page 362。
The Red Bird of Paradise offers a remarkable case of restricted range； being entirely confined to the small island of Waigiou； off the north…west extremity of New Guinea； where it replaces the allied species found in the other islands。
The three birds just described form a well…marked group； agreeing in every point of general structure； in their comparatively large size； the brown colour of their bodies； wings； and tail； and in the peculiar character of the ornamental plumage which distinguishes the male bird。 The group ranges nearly over the whole area inhabited by the family of the Paradiseidae； but each of the species has its own limited region； and is never found in the same district with either of its close allies。 To these three birds properly belongs the generic title Paradisea； or true Paradise Bird。
The next species is the Paradisea regia of Linnaeus； or Ding Bird of Paradise； which differs so much from the three preceding species as to deserve a distinct generic name； and it has accordingly been called Cicinnurus regius。 By the Malays it is called 〃Burong rajah；〃 or King Bird； and by the natives of the Aru Islands 〃Goby…goby。〃
This lovely little bird is only about six and a half inches long； partly owing to the very short tail； which does not surpass the somewhat square wings。 The head； throat； and entire upper surface are of the richest glossy crimson red； shading to orange…crimson on the forehead； where the feathers extend beyond the nostrils more than half…way down the beak。 The plumage is excessively brilliant； shining in certain lights with a metallic or glassy lustre。 The breast and belly are pure silky white； between which colour and the red of the throat there is a broad band of rich metallic green； and there is a small spot of the same colour close above each eye。 From each side of the