The PARADISE or ROYAL FLY-SNAPPER (_Terpsiphone paradisea_) is a
magnificent species, two feet in length, if we include the centre
tail-feathers, which measure fifteen and sixteen inches, whilst those
at the side do not exceed five inches. The wing is four inches long.
The coloration of the sexes differs considerably--in the old male the
head, crest, neck, and breast are of a greenish black; the rest of
the feathers are white, streaked here and there with black upon the
shafts; the primary and secondary quills are black, tipped with white
upon the inner and entirely white upon the outer web. The female,
readily distinguished from her mate by the comparative shortness of
the tail-feathers, is like the young male, of a glossy black upon the
head, neck, and breast, and white upon the belly; the rest of the
plumage being entirely nut-brown. The nestlings are ash-grey upon the
throat, breast, sides, and upper part of the belly. All have deep brown
eyes, bright blue beaks and eyelids, and lavender-blue feet. The Royal
Fly-snapper inhabits the whole of India, from Ceylon to the Himalaya,
where it is replaced by another species, and is usually found within the
shelter of such forests as are not more than 2,000 feet above the sea.
According to Jerdon, it occasionally ventures forth from its favourite
retreats to investigate the surrounding country, but rarely makes its
home amongst the brushwood or trees upon the open plains. Its flight is
undulatory in its commencement, and very striking, owing to the strange
effect presented by its long tail, as it waves and flutters through the
air. This flowing tail is raised and spread with every appearance of
delighted vanity by its beautiful owner, as it perches quietly in the
branches, and glances sharply around in order to detect the approach of
an insect, upon which it darts at once with great rapidity, and having
secured it, returns to its lurking-place. Almost the entire day is spent
in restlessly flitting about from branch to branch, and tree to tree, and
constantly uttering its loud but not unpleasing cry. The nest is formed
of moss and fibres, lined with hair and wool. This magnificent bird is
usually to be seen perched upon a branch, and displaying to the utmost
its beautiful plumage, as it alternately expands and closes its graceful
crest and tail, in evident appreciation and enjoyment of its own beauty.
Its flight, which is very rapid when occupied in chasing its rivals from
the field, or pursuing its insect prey, changes into a hovering motion if
the bird is under no excitement, and merely wishes to fly to a distant
spot; at such times few more attractive sights can be witnessed than it
presents as it thus slowly glides in a series of undulating lines through
the air, its pure white tail upheld and streaming behind in such a manner
as to form a flowing train. These long tail-feathers are only retained
during the time that the bird wears its bridal attire, and are soon
torn away by the foliage of the trees when the period of incubation is
over. Unlike most of its congeners, the Paradise Fly-snapper is endowed
with a gentle and sweet-toned cry. Le Vaillant describes a nest that he
was informed had been built by one of these birds as being horn-shaped,
about eight inches long, and the broadest part two and a half inches
across. This little structure, which hung in the forked branches of the
mimosa-tree, was most carefully constructed of fibres woven together, so
as in its texture to resemble haircloth. The interior was without any
warm lining.
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The FANTAILS (_Rhipidura_) are a group of birds inhabiting Australia and
the neighbouring islands; they are also occasionally to be met with in
some parts of Asia. All the various species have slender bodies, long
wings, of which the fourth and fifth quills exceed the rest in length,
and well-developed tails; their tarsi are powerful, and of moderate
length; their beaks broad, curving gradually downwards to the slightly
hooked extremity, and incised at the margins; the region of the bill is
covered with large bristles.