596 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, 



Bullock's collection. During our sojourn at New Guinea 

 with the corvette ' La Coquille/ we only obtained two muti- 

 lated skins ; and M. Dumont-Durville, commander of the 

 expedition of the ' Astrolabe/ secured only a single skin 

 deprived of its wings and feet, the manner in which they are 

 usually prepared by the natives. It is in the dense and vast 

 forests which surround the harbour of Dorey in New Guinea, 

 that this fine species resides." The researches of Mr. Mac- 

 gillivray and others enable me to state that it also inhabits 

 the north-eastern portion of Australia, a circumstance of no 

 ordinary interest, since besides adding another fine species to 

 the already exceedingly rich fauna of that country, we now 

 know that our museums will, ere long be graced with fine 

 and perfect specimens in lieu of the mutilated skins hitherto 

 procurable. We have abundant evidence of its being fre- 

 quently met with at Cape York, since nearly every officer of 

 the ' Rattlesnake ' procured and brought home specimens from 

 that locality. 



The following are Mr. Macgillivray's notes respecting it : — 

 " This fine Rifle-Bird inhabits the densest of the brushes in 

 the neighbourhood of Cape York. The natives are familiar 

 with it under the name of ' Yagoonya ' ; the Darnley Islanders 

 also recognized a skin shown them, and described it to be a 

 native of Dowde, or the south coast of New Guinea, near 

 Bristow Island. Its cry is very striking : upon being imitated 

 by man, which may be easily done, the male bird will answer ; 

 it consists of a loud whistle resembling wheeoo repeated three 

 times and ending abruptly in a note like who-o-o. Both sexes 

 utter the same note, but that of the male is much the loudest. 

 The old males were generally seen about the tops of the 

 highest trees, where, if undisturbed, they would remain long 

 enough to utter their loud cry two or three times at intervals 

 of from two to five minutes. If a female be near, the male 

 frequently perches on a conspicuous dead twig in a crouching 

 attitude, rapidly opening and closing his wings, the feathers 



