RICE-BIRD—RIFLEMAN-BIRD 789 
3 or 4 in Columbidz, 4 or 5 in Passeres and most Picariv, 4 to 7 in 
Steganopodes and 4 to 9 in Anseres ; (4) Luinbar Ribs, following the 
Thoracic, and often consisting only of a short dorsal piece which is 
thus frequently fused with the overlapping part of the In1um. The 
number of Ribs varies (not so much as a whole, but according to 
the regions to which they belong) among closely-allied species as 
well as among individuals of the same species. Usually an 
increased number of cervical or lumbar “false” Ribs means a 
reduced number of “true” or thoracic Ribs, and vice ver'sd. Speak- 
ing generally, a greater number of Ribs, and especially of thoracic 
Ribs, indicates a lower and therefore phylogenetically older condition, 
a feature which is found in the Bird not only in its embryonic but 
even during its adolescent stage. From a taxonomic point of view 
Ribs are valueless. 
RICE-BIRD, one of the many names of the BoBoLINK (p. 46), 
and perhaps locally applied in the East Indies to others not at all 
allied (cf. PADDY-BIRD, p. 683). 
RICHEL-BIRD (etymology! and spelling doubtful) said to be 
a local name of the Lesser TERN. 
RIFLEMAN - BIRD, or RIFLE-BIRD, names given by the 
English in Australia to a very beautiful inhabitant of that country,” 
probably because in coloration it resembled the well-known uniform 
of the rifle-regiments of the British army, while in its long and 
projecting hypochondriac plumes and short tail a further likeness 
might be traced to the hanging pelisse and the jacket formerly 
worn by the members of those corps. Be that as it may, the cock 
bird is clothed in velvety-black generally glossed with rich purple, 
but having each feather of the abdomen broadly tipped with a 
chevron of green bronze, while the crown of the head is covered 
with scale-like feathers of glittering green, and on the throat 
gleams a triangular patch of brilliant bluish emerald, a colour that 
reappears on the whole upper surface of the middle pair of tail- 
quills. The hen is greyish-brown above, the crown striated with 
dull white ; the chin, throat and a streak behind the eye are pale 
ochreous, and the lower parts deep buff, each feather bearing a 
black chevron. According to James Wilson (Jil. Zool. pl. xi.), 
1 “*Rekels”(Cathol. Angl. p. 302), ‘‘Richelle” or ‘‘Rychelle” (Prompt. Parvul. 
pp- 66, 433), derived from reke or reek (smoke), is an old word for incense, but 
no connexion with the bird’s name is apparent. 
2 Its English_name seems to be first printed in 1825 by Barron Field 
(Geog. Mem. N. S. Wales, p. 503). In 1828 Lesson and Garnot said (Voy. 
de la Coquille, Zool. p. 669) that it was applied ‘‘ pour rappeler que ce fut 
un soldat de la garnison [of New South Wales] qui le tua le premier,”—which 
seems to be an insufficient reason, though the statement as to the bird’s first 
murderer may be true. The Rifleman of New Zealand is Acarthidositta chloris. 
