■jQ NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Mr. Kendall Broadbent, who is undoubtedly a good " field " authority 

 on our northern scrubs, gives some very interesting details of the Victoria 

 Rifle Bird. He found the bird in the mountainous districts inland from 

 Cardwell even more numerous on the western fall of the range than 

 anywhere else. In its peculiar district it is so common that Mr. Broadbent 

 has seen as many as eight male birds while merely riding along the road 

 through the scrub. The birds attain their full size the second year, but 

 the plumage of tlie male is not perfect until the third year. 



During the months of July, August, and Sejjtember (which 

 Mr. Broadbent considered were the breeding season) the male bird is 

 continually on the move, flying or hopping, and calling almost incessantly. 

 On this latter account he is most easily obtained at tliis time of the 

 year. After September, Mr. Broadbent relates, the male is very quiet, 

 a fact that I think would suggest its breeding season had only commenced, 

 which, by the subsequent discovery by other collectors of several nests with 

 eggs, proved to be the case. 



The play-grounds and habits of the Victoria Rifle Bird are indeed 

 remarkable, and aid in proving the affinity of Rifle Birds wth Bower 

 Birds. Mr. Broadbent proceeds to state: — "Each male bird, as thougii 

 by mutual agreement, has possession of a fixed domain, possibly some 

 hundi'eds of yards in extent. In this area he has absolute rule — that is, 

 as far as he can rule — and, if another male should enter on the ground. 

 a fight ensues, the victor remaining in possession. 



" A further interesting fact in this connection is the ' play-ground ' used 

 by each male bird. In early morning the bird resorts to his play-gioimd 

 and there sports himself, now spreading his mngs and inibbing them against 

 the sui-face of the play-grouud, and then whirling round with wings 

 expanded. This lie sometimes keeps up for as long as half-an-hour. No 

 trouble is taken in preparing the giound, as in the case of the Bower Birds 

 with their wonderful bowers. The bird simply selects the broken Umb of 

 a dead gum on the border of the scrub, a broken palm, or perhaps a dead 

 stump; but, having chosen this, here he returns at dawn day after day, 

 especially in (? before) the breeding season. Once having seen a bird at 

 play in such a place, it is no difficult matter to obtain it in futiu'e ; in tliis 

 way I once procured a specimen which had selected a tree stump for its 

 ' ground,' and at a later date secured a second bird which had seemingly 

 inherited the vacant property." 



One of the chief objects of my trip to Queensland in 1885 was to gain, 

 if possible, some information respecting the nidification of tliis Rifle Bird, 

 wliich was up to that time a sealed book, or one of Natiu'e's secrets. 

 Although I did not succeed in procuring eggs, I had better give the story 

 of our glorious outing amongst the birds themselves as it aiDpeared in the 

 columns of I'hc Aiistra/asiaii, under the title of "A Naturalists' Camp in 

 Northern Queensland, " my companions being Messrs. A. and F. Coles, 

 Melboiu-ne, and Mr. A. Gulliver, Townsville : — 



" While encamped at Cardwell we determined to see the Rifle Bird 

 in its native element, and, if possible, procure skins, and, as the Rockingham 

 Bay variety was rarest, we were doubly anxious for success. Having failed 

 to observe any of these birds on the mainland, and knowing that they were. 



