I assured the people I had heard the cry of these birds close to the village, but they world not believe that I could know their cry.

However, the very first time I went into the forest I not only heard but saw them, and was convinced there were plenty about; but they were very shy, and it was some time before we got any.

My hunter first shot a female, and I one day got very close to a fine male.

He was, as I expected, the rare red species, Paradisea rubra, which alone inhabits this island, and is found nowhere else.

He was quite low down, running along a bough searching for insects, almost like a woodpecker, and the long black riband-like filaments in his tail hung down in the most graceful double curve imaginable.