68 A'ESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRATJAN BIRDS. 



bung " (meauing shining or silky). Gould, through an informant, states 

 the native name is " Yass, " after the note of the bird, but the name is 

 applied fui-ther down by the natives of the Clarence district. You may 

 hear females and young males from different parts of the sci-ub uttering 

 a prolonged guttui-al " yass." Young males Just commencing to feel " their 

 spurs " repeat the note twice, somewhat hurriedly ; but there is no mistak- 

 ing an old " rooster," with the measm-ed intei-\'al between the two not€s 

 as if he were taking breath, and so lovid are the notes that he may be heard 

 lialf-a-mile or more away. The Rifle Bird is very local. If you hear one in a 

 particular locaUty, it is only a matter of time and patience before the bird 

 is yours. By and by you may see him ascending a tree bole after the 

 manner of a Tree Creeper or clinging to a huge " calabash " (staghom fern) 

 prospecting with large ciu'ved bill for insect food. 



Two informants reported they saw what appeared to be a nest behind 

 such a place (stag-ferns). One was in a " bean " tree, about fifty feet from 

 the gi'ound, where a pair of birds was going to and fro as if feeding young. 



However, here is the story of the fii'st (record) nest. About the middle 

 of the second week in November, 1897, Mr. Isaac Foster, farmer, at Rous. 

 Richmond River district, observed a pair of birds, i.e., both male and 

 female, building. He detected them caiTying portions of ferns f Polypodiiim ) 

 for nest constiiiction, the remarkable fact being that the male bird appeared 

 immature, not being in entirely black plumage. Mr. Foster reported the 

 interesting news to my friend, Mr. W. T. Bailey, of Cowlong, and an 

 arrangement was made to take the nest on the 19th November, when it 

 was found to contain a single egg. 



Tlie nest was built in a thick entanglement of vines, which enveloped 

 tlio top of a buoyong sapling forty feet high, the lunbrageous foliage on 

 top resembling an umbrella on a vei-y long handle. The scrub was dense 

 round about, but the tree in wluch the nest was built was well exposed, 

 owing to a windfall having broken down the trees near it. 



I shall give Mr. Bailey's own account of taking the nest : — 

 " We went on the day appointed, and found the nest to contain one egg. 

 We were a little puzzled to know whether to take it or leave it to ascertain 

 the full clutch. But as I lived far from the place, I said ' make sure of 

 No. 1.' Foster chmbed the tree, and found there were other two old nests 

 of the same kind, thus proving they must build year after year in the 

 same tree. 



" We arranged to allow another ten days to elapse to make sure of any 

 more eggs, but no more were laid. The nest is a fine picture, hned with 

 snake skins, and decorated on the outside with living ferns (a climbing 

 variety). You may be sure I was not happy till I gob it in my possession. 

 I sewed the nest all wavs with thin twine, so it cannot get out of shape. 

 I think it wiU make a good photograph." 



The nest and egg, which reached me safely through the Parcel Post, 

 were duly described before the Field Natm'aUsts' Club of Victoria. (See 

 illustration, " Nest of the Rifle Bird.") 



