1. Paradisea apoda (The Great Paradise Bird). Aru Islands.
2. Paradisea papuana (The Lesser Paradise Bird). New Guinea,
Mysol, Jobie.
3. Paradisea rubra (The Red Paradise Bird). Waigiou,
4. Cicinnurus regius (The King Paradise Bird). New Guinea, Aru
Islands, Mysol, Salwatty.
5. Diphyllodes speciosa (The Magnificent). New Guinea, Mysol,
Salwatty.
6. Diphyllodes wilsoni (The Red Magnificent). Waigiou.
7. Lophorina atra (The Superb). New Guinea.
8. Parotia sexpennis (The Golden Paradise Bird). New Guinea.
9. Semioptera wallacei (The Standard Wing). Batchian, Gilolo.
10. Epimachus magnus (The Long-tailed Paradise Bird). New Guinea
11. Seleucides albs (The Twelve-wired Paradise Bird).New Guinea,
Salwatty.
12. Ptiloris magnifica (The Scale-breasted Paradise Bird). New
Guinea.
13. Ptiloris alberti (Prince Albert's Paradise Bird). North
Australia.
14. Ptiloris Paradisea (The Rifle Bird). East Australia.
15. Ptiloris victoriae (The Victorian Rifle Bird). North-East
Australia.
16. Astrapia nigra (The Paradise Pie). New Guinea.
17. Paradigalla carunculata (The Carunculated Paradise Pie). New
Guinea.
I8. (?) Sericulus aureus (The Paradise Oriole). New Guinea,
Salwatty.
We see, therefore, that of the eighteen species which seem to
deserve a place among the Birds of Paradise, eleven are known to
inhabit the great island of New Guinea, eight of which are
entirely confined to it and the hardly separated island of
Salwatty. But if we consider those islands which are now united
to New Guinea by a shallow sea to really form a part of it, we
shall find that fourteen of the Paradise Birds belong to that
country, while three inhabit the northern and eastern parts of
Australia, and one the Moluccas. All the more extraordinary and
magnificent species are, however, entirely confined to the Papuan
region.
Although I devoted so much time to a search after these wonderful
birds, I only succeeded myself in obtaining five species during a
residence of many months in the Aru Islands, New Guinea, and
Waigiou. Mr. Allen's voyage to Mysol did not procure a single
additional species, but we both heard of a place called Sorong,
on the mainland of New Guinea, near Salwatty, where we were told
that all the kinds we desired could be obtained. We therefore
determined that he should visit this place, and endeavour to
penetrate into the interior among the natives, who actually shoot
and skin the Birds of Paradise. He went in the small prau I had
fitted up at Goram, and through the kind assistance of the Dutch
Resident at Ternate, a lieutenant and two soldiers were sent by
the Sultan of Tidore to accompany and protect him, and to assist
him in getting men and in visiting the interior.
Notwithstanding these precautions, Mr. Allen met with
difficulties in this voyage which we had neither of us
encountered before.
