zpi_..a.t:e -vt. 



FAMILY EPIMACHID^E. 

 GENUS PTILORHIS (Swains). 



this genus two species are indigenous to Australia, viz., P. Paradisea and P. Victoria. 



PTILORHIS PARADISEA (Swains). 

 RIFLE-BIRD. 



rj^HERE are few birds in the Australian forest, or indeed in any forest, with more beautiful plumage 

 than the Rifle-bird. This can only be properly appreciated on seeing it in its native state. The 

 principal resort is among the cedar brushes of the rivers of the northern portion of New South Wales, 

 where great numbers may be seen. 



It possesses many of the characteristics of the Climacteres, particularly in its manner of 

 ascending the trunks of trees. At sunrise it leaves the thickets where it has spent the night, and 

 passes the morning in flying between the tops of the lofty pines and sunning itself. During its flight 

 it makes a peculiar sound, resembling the rustling of a silk dress. Its song consists of a prolonged 

 utterance of the word " Tass," bv which name it is called bv the aborigines of the Richmond River. 

 The powers of flight are very seldom used except to pass from tree to tret-. 



The adult male has the general plumage rich velvety -black, glossed on the upper surface 

 with brownish-lilac : under surface similar to the upper, but all the feathers of the abdomen and 

 flanks margined with olive-brown ; feathers of the head and throat, small and scale-like ; those of the 

 top of the head and the throat, metallic-blue and yellow : those of the side of the head, reddish- 

 purple; two centre tail feathers, rich green, the remainder deep black; bill and feet, black. 



The female differs entirely in plumage, having the whole of the upper surface olive-brown ; 

 a Hue passing down the side of the head from behind the eye, buffy-white ; throat and under surface, 

 butfy-givv, each feather with a chestnut arrow-shaped mark near the tip. 



