THE ALBEET RIFLE-BIKD 427 



described. It was found in the Richmond River scrub in a 

 sapling at a height of about forty feet from the ground, in an 

 entanglement of vines, which covered the top of the tree. A 

 peculiar feature of the nest was its adornment with shed snake 

 skins, the largest pieces being on the top, while a few small bits 

 were in the nest. The nest was somewhat bulky, constructed 

 chiefly of the green stems and fronds of a climbing fern, with a 

 few other broad leaves at the base, and lined inside with wire- 

 like rootlets, and measured between eight and nine inches across 

 and four in depth. The egg flesh-coloured, boldly streaked 

 longitudinally with reddish and purplish brown, and measured 

 1.29 X .98 inch. 



The Victoria Rifle-bird. 



Ptilorhis victorue. 



Queensland. 



The male similar to that of preceding, the outer tail feathers 

 velvety-purple; a strong gloss of fiery copper on the chin and sides of the 

 throat; green throat shield smaller, the purple of the breast extending 

 further forward over the fore-neck. The female also similar to that of 

 P. paradisea, but the under surface is fawn-coloured, spotted on the 

 breast and barred on the flanks with brownish. The smallest of the 

 Eifle-birds. Length 10, culmen 1.5, wing 5.3, tail 3.3, tarsus 1.4 inches. 



The Albert Rifle-bird. 



GraspedopJiora (Ptilorhis) alherti. 



Cape York Peninsula. 



The male is distinguished from the males of the other two species 

 by the longer silky plumes borne on the flanks, which reach beyond the 

 tail. The female ashy-brown on head and nape, shading into olivaceous- 

 brown on the back; under surface dull-white mottled with blackish cross 

 bars. The largest of our three Eifle-birds. Length 12.2, culmen 2.2, 

 wing 6.6, tail 4.25, tarsus 1.65. 



Nest and eggs very similar to those of the other two species. 

 These birds have a harsh note and are found only in the dense 

 scrub. 



Sub-family Paradiseinw. 

 Bill more or less stout, the culmen not so long as the tarsus. 



