RIFLE-BIRD . — Ptiloris Paradtseus. 
The Slender Billed Birds always have a long and slender beak, sometimes 
curved and sometimes straight, delicate legs and long toes. 
The Rifle-Bird lives in Australia, and is one of the most beautiful birds of 
that country, with the bright emerald green of the head and throat, and the velvet 
black of the body. 
In size the Rifle-Bird is equal to a large pigeon, and in spite of its beauty it 
is not very often seen, as it is retiring in its habits, and seems to be confined to a 
very limited range of country. As far as it is at present known, it is found only in 
the thick “bush” of the south-eastern portions of Australia, and even there 
appears to be a very local bird. It is no wanderer, never flying to any great 
distance from its home, and procuring its food in the neighbourhood of its nest. 
The habits of this bird are very like those of the common creeper of England, 
for it is generally seen upon the trunks and large branches of trees, running 
nimbly round them in a spiral course and extracting the insects on which it feeds 
from the crevices and recesses of the bark. 
The general colour of this bird when full grown is velvety black above, and 
very deep olive below. The crown of the head and front of the throat are 
covered with little round scaly feathers of intense green. When young the bird 
is simply brown. 
5ft 
