No an IHE JACKSONIAN OOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 
Data Campbell's No. of 
No. Book. Eggs. 
I arrived at the Booyong scrubs, from Sydney, on the 4th of October, 1899, and on the second morning, 
at twenty minutes to five, was awakened by one of these birds making its grating or rasping-like noise 
just at the back of the “ camp,” and behind me as I reclined in my bunk. I took no notice, however, 
but next morning it was repeated, and I was awakened at 4°30 a.m., and then became very interested, 
deciding to visit the spot next morning if the noise, or note, was for the third time made. Next 
morning I was again awakened by this bird, this time at nearly five o'clock, so I slipped on a pair 
of boots, and in my pyjamas made my way through the treacherous Lawyer Vines and thorn bushes to 
the part from which the sound appeared to come. I had not gone far when I saw a female Rifle Bird 
fly from a dark clump on top of a Scrub Cherry tree, down upon a Water Vine (Vitis hypoglauca), which 
hung swing-like between two trees. When I witnessed this I stood motionless, speechless, and almost 
breathless with excitement, and watched the female on the vine ; she sat there for fully fifteen minutes, 
NEST AND EGGS OF THE N.S.W. RIFLE BIRD OF PARADISE (Ptilorhis pavadisea), Swainson. 
(Nearly half of the natural size.) 
This was the first clutch of these eggs known to science. 
Loc., Booyong Scrubs, Richmond River district, N.S.W. 
(See data No. 537, page 115.) 
eyeing me in all ways, and turning around and looking down at me side ways ; then she would spend a 
few minutes combing and cleaning her feathers with her long curved bill. During this performance a 
handsome male bird suddenly put in an appearance, and deliberately flew down on the side of the 
rough-barked trunk of a tall Red Cedar tree (Cedvela australis), within about three feet of me. 
After carefully scrutinizing me all over, in a somewhat inquisitive manner, and having remained on the 
side of the tree for about fifteen seconds, it gave two dreadful screeches and then disappeared very 
suddenly, and just as mysteriously as it came. All kinds of pictures then flashed across my mind. I 
imagined the nest was not far off, and that it contained a lovely set of eggs; then again I thought it 
must have young in it, as the hen bird sat so long in the one place. At last I tried to raise my hopes 
by surmising she was building, when off she flew, and went in almost a straight line through the scrub. 
116 
