THE RIFLE-EIRD. 
59 
gardedas a native of New Guinea^ was discovered also by that 
able naturalist Mr. Macgillivray during the voyage of H.M.S. 
Rattlesnake, at Cape York, in North Australia. He found 
it inhabiting the densest brushes. Its cry struck him, from 
its singularity. When imitated by man, the male bird will 
answer. He observed the old males generally on the tops 
of the highest trees, and if a female was near he would perch 
frequently on a conspicuous dead twig, in a crouching 
attitude, rapidly closing and opening his wings ; the feathers 
of which, by their peculiar form and texture, produce a loud 
rustling noise, which, in the comparative stillness of these 
solitudes, may be heard at the distance of a hundred yards"^.'' 
He observed the male to be very shy compared with the 
female. His attractive plumage must make him easily 
visible. The natives of Cape York, who name this bird 
Yagoonya,^^ told our friend that it breeds in a hollow tree, 
and lays several white eggs. Another magnificent species, 
discovered by Mr. Macgillivray on the north-east coast of 
Australia, has been described by Mr. Gould, and named, after 
Her Gracious Majesty, the Yictoria Rifle-bird {Ptiloris 
Fictorice), Our figure of the male of this bird (Plate IV. fig. 2) 
* Note furnislied to Mr. Gould : ' Birds of Australia,' Supplement, part I. 
March, 1851. 
