VESTS .LVD EGGS OF AVSTHAUAN BIRDS. C)- 



K:/i/f. — Clutcli, two; iu shape, inclined to oval, but more 

 swollen about the upper quarter; shell, somewhat fine in texture, surface 

 somewhat uneven, i.e.. with hair-like cracks or creases, but glossy; colour, 

 rich fleshy tiut or piukish-buff, inoderat<?ly but boldly marked or streaked 

 longitudinally with reddish-brown and pui-plish-brown, the markings being 

 more numerous on the apex and upper quarter. Some of the markings 

 have the appearance of being painted on with a fine brush. The egg 

 resembles in general character the smaller egg of the Victoria Rifle Bird, 

 but is richer in the ground colour, with the markings not so elongated. 

 Dimensions in inches, r29x'98. (Plate G.) 



Oh.irrrntioits. — *This gorgeously-plumaged bird is the most southern 

 representative of the magnificent Birds of Pai-adise. Its natural 

 boundaries are the dense sub-tropical scrubs, chiefly the coastal region 

 from the Hunter and Manning Rivers district. New South AVales, to the 

 Maryborough or Wide Bay district. South Queensland. A single bird 

 has been shot behind the Berserker mountains in the Upper Fitzroy 

 district. The opening up of its haimts by civilisation, and the number of 

 birds slain for their intrinsic value, have gi-eatly restricted these boundaries. 



My first introduction to tliis glorious bird occuiTed under singular 

 cii-ciunstances. I was en route for the Big Scrub, and between the 

 Clarence and Richmond Rivers we crossed a pine-clad range. The driver 

 of the coach obligingly stopped to enable me to take a photograph at a 

 pretty turn iu the road. While taking the picture I heard from the 

 topmost branch of a pine near, extraordinary notes like " yass-yass," 

 and tiu-ning, I beheld, perched upon a tree, a Rifle Bird spreading his 

 shining wings and quivering them in the morning sunshine. Fortunately 

 for the beautiful bird, my gim was packed away in its case at the bottom 

 of the coach. 



In New South Wales, the first Rifle Bird ever seen was supposed 

 to have been shot by a convict named Wilson, and, having been 

 described by Swainson iu 1825, it does seem vmaccoiuitable that 

 in such an enterprising State the eggs were not discovered sooner. 

 Mr. F. Strange, in commimicating with Gould, merely dropped the hint 

 that the pairing months ai-e November and December, a statement no 

 doubt con-ect, for, according to the infonnatiou I could glean from the 

 selectors during my \'isit to the Big Scrub, Richmond River, the young 

 birds, which are exceedingly clamorous, are fii-st heard about the middle of 

 January, and the old birds lay diuing December. My visit was early in 

 November, so I was evidently too soon as far as this species was concerned. 

 One person told me he had seen two nests lined entirely with shed skins 

 of snakes — a most incredible assertion I thought at the time. 



I brought home a pair of skins from the Big Scrub. My companion 

 shot the male, I bagged the female. The male was in his full nuptial 

 plumage of deep velvety-black, which at certain angles of light was tinged 

 with lilac on the back and on the under parts with lustrous olive- 

 green, while the top of the head and the throat were resplendent with 

 sliining shields of metallic green. The aboriginals called the bu-d " Bung- 



• Additional observations, see appendi.\ and illustration of nest from photograph 

 by Mr. S W Jackson. 



