IO 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
eggs. Two or three, varying from almost pure white to pale choco¬ 
late-brown or chocolate-pink; generally they are lighter in colour on 
the smaller end, but some have slaty tinges in the ground colour, and 
almost invariably have clouded zones. Breeding-season: August to 
December. 
3. Grey Whistler Pachycephala griseiceps Gray 
Pach'-y-ceph'-al-a—Gk, pachys, thick; Gk, cephale, head: gris'-e-i-ceps— 
L., griseus, grey; -ceps, from L., caput, itis, head. 
distribution. Northern Queensland, from Cape York to Rock¬ 
ingham Bay; also occurs in the Aru Islands and New Guinea. 
notes. Usually in pairs, inhabiting the big scrubs, where it is 
mostly observed seeking insect-life in the outer foliage of the largest 
trees, or among the tangled vines. Its song is a loud, clear whistle, com¬ 
posed of from five to ten notes; also two short call-notes. Food: insects, 
mostly small beetles. 
nest. A somewhat loosely made, cup-shaped structure, composed of 
fibre and dead leaves, intervowen with rootlets and tendrils; sparsely 
lined with dead grass and tendrils; on the outside are webs and cast¬ 
ings of insects. Usually placed in the upright fork of a small sapling. 
eggs. Usually two, white, well marked all over, particularly at the 
larger end, with spots of dark and light umber and purplish-grey, the 
latter appearing as if beneath the shell. Breeding-season: October. 
4. Magnificent Rifle-bird Ptiloris magnificus Vieillot—4A. Female 
Ptil'-o-ris— Gk, ptilon, feather; Gk, ris, rinos = rhis, nose: mag-nif'-i-cus 
—L., magnificus, magnificent. 
distribution. Northern Queensland, from Cape York to the 
Claudie River; also occurs in New Guinea. 
notes. Usually in pairs, frequenting the big scrubs. It is similar in 
habits to the Paradise Rifle-bird; its call, however, is quite different, 
being a loud insistent whistle, following two sharp whistles. Food:* 
chiefly native fruits; also insects. 
nest. A loosely and scantily built, open, cup-shaped structure, com¬ 
posed of dead leaves, vine tendrils, and fibre; lined with vine tendrils 
and plant-fibre. Often placed in a pandanus palm, within 7 feet of 
the ground; sometimes built on top of a dead spout of a tree or similar 
situation, as high as 40 feet from the ground. 
eggs. Two, creamy-white, beautifully marked with longitudinal 
streaks and spots of brownish-olive, rufous-brown, and slate, ^the long 
brush-like streaks becoming more numerous at the larger end. Breeding 
season: October to early February; May. 
5. Victoria Rifle-biid Ptiloris victoria Gould-5A. Female 
Victoria—Queen Victoria. 
distribution. Northern Queensland. 
notes. Also called Lesser Rifle-bird. Usually in pairs, frequenting 
