1. XIX.-| 



1920 J 



Royal Aiislralasiau Oynilltologisls' Union. 221 



hopping and creeping round and up a large tree, after the manner of 

 a Climacteris (Ti^ec-crCeper), pulling off bark and peering into crevices, 

 from which insect -life was captured ; with a long and powerful bill 

 she pulled off great masses of moss from the branches in search of 

 insects. The male birds are not quite so confident, for they are self- 

 conscious of their wonderful coloration ; still, morning and evening 

 they were seen coming close to the camp to drink, but did not tarry 

 long, soon flying back to the dense scrub. To see this bird to 

 advantage one wants to mark down a bird's whereabouts the day 

 before (this can be done by the call, and they are very local birds, 

 repairing to the same trees each morning and evening). Next 

 morning, before sunrise, make quietly over the fallen leaves to the 

 tree (it is generally a large one) and keep perfectly (piiet. After a 

 while the harsh note is heard, then a beautiful rustling sound, as if 

 the finest of silks were being moved about ; this is caused by tlic 

 wing feathers as the bird commences to dance. In such a position 

 the writer found himself spellbound, for there, right overhead, was 

 a magnificent male in full plumage. He had commenced to show off 

 to the female. His feathers were puft'ed out, throat of metallic green 

 dilated, wings half extended, with the light reflecting on the golden 

 purple sheen as he danced along a horizontal branch for quite a time ; 

 then he let himself drop, but clutched the branch with his claws and 

 hung head downwards. Opening his mouth, he showed a wonderful 

 expanse of bright yellow lining to the mouth and gape. Giving forth 

 his strange, harsh call, he let go to take flight, with the indescribable 

 wonderful rustling sound of the wings, then to resume his dance on 

 the same limb. It was a sight which will never be forgotten. 



The bird's call is rather a harsh one, but unlike any other bird's 

 call in the scrub, so cannot be mistaken. It is a kind of creaking 

 sound, shrill and repeated once over. As a rule the female has a 

 much softer and lower note, but she is usually very silent. ^ — Iris 

 dark ruddy brown ; bill dull black ; gape rich saffron-yellow ; feet 

 scaly-black; total length, 292 mm. ; wing from body to tip, 204 mm. ; 

 spread, 480 mm. Mr. A. S. Le Souef gives the following notes :— 

 Rifle-Bird call is generally two notes — " Kre-e-e-e-e, kre-e-e-e," and 

 sometimes two shorter notes of inquiry — " Ka. ka." Birds seen 

 searching under moss and lichen for insects, and sometimes running 

 round a tree somewhat like a Tree-creeper, and searching amongst 

 the mosses and small orchids for food. When in flight the rustling 

 sound of the wings is heard, but is not heard when birds are planing 

 from a height to a lower level. 



Corvus (sp. ?) — A Crow was seen, and to me seemed a small species. 

 Not liaving handled a skin, it is useless to comment upon it. 



Strepera graculina. Pied Bell-Magpie. — ^ This bird was fairly 

 common, but showed preference to the open timber country. Their 

 beautiful ringing call is much appreciated amidst the mountain forests. 

 They seemed to be mostly in pairs. Upon comparison with birds 

 taken further north by the writer, not the slightest variation is seen. 

 Sex ? — Iris bright yellow ; bill black ; feet black ; total length, 

 485 mm. ; wing from body to tip, 315 mm. ; spread, 760 mm. 



Gymnorhina tibicen. Hlack-backed Magpie. — These birds were 

 seen in the open country. 



The following notes arc from Dr. J. Burton Cleland, who has 

 compared his specimens with those in the Australian Museum : — 



