CHAPTER XVIIINOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA
CHAPTER XVIIINOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA
CHAPTER XVIIINOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA
CHAPTER XVIII
NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA
New Guinea is remarkable for its paucity of mammals and its richness in birds. As we have already noted, at least 770 different species of birds are known, and to these doubtless many more will be added as the explorer ventures farther into the interior. The chief haunts of the blue bird of paradise, theParadisornis Rudolphi, are in Central British New Guinea, at an altitude of from 4000 to 6000 feet. There are about a dozen species of the bird of paradise, and at Mafulu we obtained the following, of which I give, where possible, the native name:—
Besides these we found two species of bower-bird—
Amblyornis subalaris.Laurea lori.
Amblyornis subalaris.Laurea lori.
Amblyornis subalaris.Laurea lori.
Amblyornis subalaris.
Laurea lori.
The limit of the king bird (Cicinnurus Regius) was at an elevation of about 1500 feet. It has a brilliant crimson back, the throat crimson, with a green band edged with another narrow band of crimson.The breast is white, the beak blue, two big tail feathers curve gracefully outwards, and end in spatulæ of brilliant green on the upper side. There are also shortish plumes on each side ending in a band of green.
At Ekeikei and Dinawa, but chiefly at Dinawa, were the playgrounds of theDiphyllodis magnifica. These were very remarkable. The bird chooses a fairly clear space among saplings ten or fifteen feet high. These it clears of leaves, and also the ground between, making all beautifully clean and level. There it dances, leaping from tree to tree, running along the ground for a little, and then taking to the branches again. Every movement is extraordinarily rapid. If any leaves are thrown into the enclosure the bird gets very angry, and flings them out again immediately.
Sam told me that on the Kebea he had observed the play-place of theParotia Lawsii, which is even more singular. The bird digs a hole, at least a foot in diameter, and over it places cross-sticks. Above these again it strews leaves and other vegetable refuse, and on the top of that it dances. Its playtime is the morning, but during the day it haunts the tops of the highest trees, and is consequently very difficult to come by.
I was fortunate enough to be able to observe one of the latest and most wonderful discoveries among the birds of paradise, theParadisornis Rudolphi, familiarly known as the blue bird of paradise. It feeds on the larvæ of beetles found in the umbrella head of the mountain pandanus. This tree has adventitiousroots which spring clear of the ground to a height of sixty feet, and then throw out flag leaves in the shape of an umbrella. From the umbrella top hang fine clusters of scarlet fruit. The decomposition of the vegetable matter at the point where the leaves stretch out gives refuge to the pupæ of beetles of many diverse species, and these prove a great attraction to the blue bird of paradise, who finds them excellent eating. The bird is about the size of a jay, and is very gorgeous. The upper part of its wings is a sky blue; the side plumes are in gradations of brilliant greenish blue and ultramarine; when the plumes are spread there is also a band of brown feathers. The head resembles that of the common crow, but is smaller. From the upper part of the tail spring two elongated feathers with two light-blue spatulæ at the tips. In the same pandanus tree lives also theAstrapia stephaniæ, remarkable for its long tail, with two violet feathers and a white shaft. The upper part of this bird’s breast is a most brilliant green, with a band of copper below. In one light it appears shaded with violet. The back of the head is violet with gold iridescence. The whole length of the bird is 2 feet 6 inches.
Equally wonderful is the bower-bird, at once gardener, architect, and artist. Not only does it build the most extraordinary nest known to naturalists—a long, tunnel-like bower framed like a delicate Gothic arch, but it actually lays out a garden. I have myself seen the creature’s marvellous achievement. It has definite colour-sense, for it picks the blossoms of orchids, and arranges them in alternate lines of mauveand white. The whole impulse is, of course, the universal one of love, for among its rows of flowers it dances to its mate. This was probably the prettiest and most fascinating of all the sights provided by nature in New Guinea, that land of surprises.