Identifier: reptilesbirds00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Reptiles Birds
Publisher: London : Cassell & Co.

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Fig. 192.—The Great Emerald. plume, and giving the bird a meteor look as it shoots through theair. They live in flocks in the vast Papuan forests. When preparedfor migration—for they change their quarters with the monsoons—the females assemble in small flocks on the tops of the loftiest trees,and call their males, each flock of fourteen or fifteen being attendedby one. The King Bird of Paradise (Paradisea regia, Fig. 193) is_ arare bird, inhabiting the Molucca Islands. Little is known of its 474 REPTILES AND BIRDS, habits. The beak, which is furnished at the base with smaU featherspointing forward, is slender, convex, and shghtly compressed atthe sides. The hypochondrial feathers are broad, elongated, andtruncated. In the Superb (Paradisea superba, Fig. 194) the beak is fur-nished with elongated feathers, extending half its length; the feathersof the neck rising just behind the head, expand into a wing-likeform.
Text Appearing After Image:
193.—King Bird of Paradise Fig. :q4.—The Superb Bird of Paradise. In the Golden Bird of Paradise (Paradisea scxsdacca. Fig. 195)the beak is furnished with short feathers for half its length, and isslender, compressed laterally, notched and curved at the tip; theyhave long, broad, and loose plumes covering the sides and abdominalpart. It obtains the name of Sifilet, given to it by Buffon, from thethree thread-like feathers on each side of the head expanding intoa lancet shape at the extremity, and which form a very strikingornament. The birds which constitute the Crows (Conidte) are characterisedby a very strong beak with cutting edges, broad at the base, flattenedlaterally, and hooked towards the point; the nostrils co^^red with CJ?OWS. 47 S stiff feathers directed forward; also by strong claws and long pointedwings. They are divided into four groups or sub-genera—namely,the Crows properly so called, Pies, Jays, and Nutcrackers. The genus Corvus^ as limited by modern naturalists

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