Strange Creatures Of

Papuan Wilds

From Our Samarai Correspondent

A MOST interesting exhibition of mar supial and rodent skins, collected frofn the Denewa and Gwoira Mountains, N.E. Coast of Papua, for the British Museum, was arranged in Sama rai (Papua) in January by Mr. F. Shaw Mayer.

It was startling to see all the differ ent species of rodent that are in this country. There was a large tree-climb ing kangaroo whose fur runs in the opposite direction to other furred crea tures, so that when he sleeps with his head down the rain runs off him. There were all sorts of rats, from the tiny grass-rat to creatures measuring about three feet from nose to tail; black and white striped ’possums, one of which had an elongated middle claw, which it uses to insert in hollow trunks to extri cate wood grubs on which it feeds; a species of rat, about 8 inches lone, with a tail for all the world like a feather.

Also on display was the very rare Bird of Paradise. “Princess Stephanie”, a gor geous jet-black bird with two very long tail feathers of iridescent black, which change colour to bronze, green and deep purple as they reflect the sun’s rays.

Another beautiful and uncommon bird was the “Helena six-plumed” Bird of Paradise, also black, with a “bib” and top-notch of iridescence, that changed colour and snarkled like sequins. He had six thread-like plumes of black, with circular tins, which he raised, with a lot of loose feathers round his waist, that stuck out like a “ballet” skirt when he danced.