The Guardian of the Entrance to the Paradise of Birds maintains his post at the borders of the Paradise, in the gold and silver trees there; and he decides if visitors are allowed to enter. The bird is about the size of a pigeon; his carriage is graceful, dignified, and impressive. His eyes are shrewd but gentle in expression. Like all the Birds of Paradise, the Guardian bears gorgeous plumage: the feathers on his neck and wings are a glistening emerald green, shading to a lighter green on his breast and then to the purest white. His wing feathers are white, tipped with deep scarlet; white too are the feathers of his crest, tipped with flame color. In his great fanlike tail, the feathers alternate between brilliant green and snow white.