78 



NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRAUAN BIRDS. 



The first nest was discovered on 23rd October, 1896 ; the last taken 

 on 15th February following. In nearly every instance Mr. Barnard 

 succeeded in getting the proper pair of eggs. If the first egg were left, 

 in some unaccountable manner it always disappeared ; therefore, when a 

 nest was fomid containing a single egg, upon the wise principle of " a bird 

 (or an egg) in the hand is worth two in the bush," it was taken, whereupon 

 the obliging bird laid the second egg next day. 



As has been tnih' observed, the various Rifle Bu'ds' eggs are certainly 

 amongst the most beautiful and striking of those of Austrahan birds. 



I requested Mr. Barnard to fimiish me with a characteristic pose of 

 a male bird for museum purposes. He obligingly replies : — " Re pose of 

 Cape York Rifle Bird. — It generally selects a large horizontal vine 

 stretched between two trees, throws its wings forward till the ends meet, 

 and nibbing them together makes a loud nistUng noise, wluch can be 

 heard some distance away, at the same time the bird throws its head from 

 side to side, or first over one shoulder, then over the other. At another 

 time a bii-d would get on an upright vine or stick, spread its wings and 

 tail and then throw itself first round one side of its support and then on 

 the other, the head Ijeinsf thrown well back." 



Sub-family — ParadiseinjE. 



57.— Phonygama gouldi, Gray. — (133) 

 MANUCODE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., supp., pi. g. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol ill., p. i8i. 

 Previous Description of Eggs. — Le Souef ; Ibis, p. 54 (1898). 



Geographical Distribution. — North Queensland. 



If est. — Open, somewhat shallow ; composed of strong ciu'l}' tendrils 

 of creeping plants, and lined inside with finer tendrils. The original nest 

 found was fixed in the forked branchlct of a forest tree. (See illustration.) 

 Dimensions over all, 6 to 8 mches by 4 inches in depth ; egg cavity, 3J to 

 4 inches across by li inches deep. 



Eggs. — Clutch, two ; oval in fonn, or more pointed towards one end ; 

 texture of shell fine ; surface veiy shghtly glossy ; colom- (of one egg in 

 the type clutch), light purplish-pink, marked and streaked longitudinally 

 with pinkish-red or reddish-chestnut and purple, the markings being more 

 numerous and inchned to be blotchy on the apex. Dimensions in inches : 

 1-42 X '96. (Plate 6). The second egg has the gi-ound-colour of a darker 

 shade, and the markings are not so distinct. Dimensions : 1-42 x -95 

 inches. 



