from the ground, and the bird sat quietly, notwithstanding we were camped about five feet away from the tree. 
There was a single egg, the incubation of which had probably lasted for about seven days.’ There is a 
difference between the nest and eggs taken by Mr. French’s collector and the last found by Mr. Le Souef. 
For all that, after critical examination, I am not prepared to say that they are not of the same species, only 
found under different conditions— one taken inland in a dense scrub, the other found by the sea-shore on an 
island. The nests are similarly constructed, while the general colour of the eggs is alike, with the exception 
that one is spotted, the other streaked. However, the nest and egg now exhibited by Mr. Le Souef may he 
described as follows : — 
“ Nest . — Somewhat loosely constructed of broad dead leaves and green branchlets of climbing plants and 
fibrous material, fnside may he seen two large concave-shaped dead leaves underneath pieces of dry 
tendrils which form a springy lining for the egg or young to rest upon. Measurement in centimetres — over 
all, 19 broad by 9 deep ; egg-cavity, 9 across the mouth by 4 deep. 
“Egg . — In shape nearly oval, but a little stouter about the upper quarter. Shell somewhat lustrous. 
Ground-colour of the egg of a fleshy tint, streaked in various lengths and breadths, longitudinally, with 
reddish brown and purplish brown. The markings commence near the apex, which is bare, and extend about 
halfway down the shell, and assume the appearance of having been painted on (boldly at the top and 
tapering downwards) with a camel-hair or such-like brush. Many of the markings are confluent, the longest 
single one being T23 cm., by a breadth of ‘23 cm. There are also a few small spots near the lower 
quarter, and one large blotch of reddish brown which has a smudged appearance. Length of the egg 
314 cm. ; breadth 2 32 cm.” 
Mr. Campbell very kindly forwarded me a photograph of the egg taken by Mr. French ; but as there 
seems to be some slight doubt as to the identification of this specimen, I give the accompanying representation 
of the nest and egg of the Victoria Ride-bird taken by Mr. Le Souef, who has kindly forwarded me a 
photograph of them. 
He has given the following account of the taking of the nest, in the ‘Victorian Naturalist’ for 
February 1892 : — “ We left again during the afternoon and scrambled over the island, still searching for the 
nest of the Rifle-bird. A fair number of the birds showed themselves, but it was a difficult thing to discover 
any nests in such thick vegetation, and we thought our task a hopeless one. Once we came across a large 
nest built of leaves, and, thinking it might be the one we wanted, one of us sat down a short distance away 
and watched it quietly to see whether any birds came to it. A male Rifle-bird soon put in an appearance 
and uttered its grating kind of note. It clung to a vine and went through all sorts of antics, one favourite 
position being to stretch its expanded wings above its head until the tips touched, and then hiding its head 
behind them and bending its body from one side to the other. After going on for about a quarter of an 
hour it flew away. Shortly after returning to the camp, we again heard the female Rifle-bird near us, so we 
determined to watch her movements. Mr. Barnard went to one side of the small patch of scrub and I went 
