To Effect These Changes There Must Be
At Least Three Successive Moultings; And As The Birds Were Found
By Me
In all the stages about the same time, it is probable that
they moult only once a year, and that
The full plumage is not
acquired till the bird is four years old. It was long thought
that the fine train of feathers was assumed for a short time only
at the breeding season, but my own experience, as well as the
observation of birds of an allied species which I brought home
with me, and which lived two years in this country, show that the
complete plumage is retained during the whole year, except during
a short period of moulting as with most other birds.
The Great Bird of Paradise is very active and vigorous and seems
to be in constant motion all day long. It is very abundant, small
flocks of females and young male being constantly met with; and
though the full-plumaged birds are less plentiful, their loud
cries, which are heard daily, show that they also are very
numerous. Their note is, "Wawk-wawk-wawk-Wok-wok-wok," and is so
loud and shrill as to be heard a great distance, and to form the
most prominent and characteristic animal sound in the Aru
Islands. The mode of nidification is unknown; but the natives
told me that the nest was formed of leaves placed on an ant's
nest, or on some projecting limb of a very lofty tree, and they
believe that it contains only one young bird.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 351 of 412
Words from 94637 to 94899
of 111511
