INSESSORES. 591 



the same subfamily, but makes it form a part of the family 

 Upupidce. It has always appeared to me that they bear a 

 strong resemblance to the Climacteres, preceding which I 

 shall therefore place them. 



Genus PTILORHIS, Swainson. 



Of this genus two well-defined species inhabit Australia, viz. 

 P. paradisea and F. Victories. 



Sp. 363. PTILORHIS PARADISEA, Swains. 



Rifle-Bird. 



Ptiloris paradiseus, Swains. Zool. Journ., vol. i. p. 481. 

 Epimachus regius, Less. Zool. de la Coq., pi. 28. 



hrisbanii, Wils. 111. of Zool., pi. 9. 



Ptiloris paradisea, G. R. Gray^ Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit. p. 15. 

 Epimachus paradiseus, Gray and 'Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 91, 



Epimachus, sp. 4. 

 Ptilorhis paradiseus. Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil i. p. 214. 

 paradisea, Reich. Handb. der Spec. Orn., p. 328. 



Ptiloris paradiseus, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. pi. 100. 



Hitherto this magnificent bird has only been discovered in 

 the brushes of the south-eastern portion of Australia; so 

 limited in fact does its range of habitat seem to be, that the 

 river Hunter to the southward, and Moreton Bay to the east- 

 ward, may be considered its natural boundaries in either 

 direction. I have been informed by several persons who have 

 seen it in its native wilds that it possesses many habits in com- 

 mon with the Climacteres, and that it ascends the upright boles 

 of trees precisely after the manner of those birds. It was a 

 source of regret to me that I had no opportunity of verifying 

 these assertions, but an examination of the structure of the 

 bird induces me to believe that such is the case : that its 

 powers of flight are very limited, is certain from the short- 

 ness and peculiarly truncate form of the wing, and this mode 



