THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest An open cup-shaped structure, verj^ loosely and carelessly built, composed of dead 
leaves (some being rather large), also vine tendrils, fibre, etc., and lined with vine 
tendrils and plant fibres. Dimensions over all, 8 to 10 inches across by 5 to 7 inches 
in depth. Egg cavity, 4 to 5 inches across by 2 to nearly 3 inches deep. It is often 
placed in a Pandanus Palm, within 7 feet of the ground; sometimes built on top 
of a dead spout of a tree, and other situations, up as high as 40 feet. Tliis species 
does not appear to use cast-off snake skins on its nests as is the habit with the other 
two Australian species. 
Breeding-nwnths, October to early February ; May. 
In the report of Macgillivray’s discoveries, mentioned under Alphachlamydera 
cerviniventris, Gould quoted Macgilhvray’s letter: “I have now to beg that 
you will examine a case of specimens, sent home to Professor Porbes, in the 
‘ St. George,’ as it contains no less than eight or nine species of birds new to 
the Australian Fauna, all from Cape York, and the sooner the novelties are 
described the better,” Among the new birds was included PtilorJiis magnificiis, 
and Gould accepted it as identical, explaining later: “ Let me add that 
differences too slight to be considered specific are observable in Australian 
and New Guinea specimens ; one of them being the greater length of the black 
side plumes in the New Guinea examples.” The elder Macgilfivray's detailed 
notes read: “ This fine Rifle-Bird inhabits the densest of the brushes in the 
neighbourhood of Cape York. The natives are familiar with it under the 
name of ‘ Yagoonya ’; the Darnley Islanders also recognised a s kin shown 
them, and described it to be a native of Dowde, or the south coast of New 
Guinea, near Bristow' Island. Its cry is very striking; upon being imitated 
by man, which may be easily done, the male bird aWII answer; it consists of 
a loud whistle resembling wheeoo repeated three times and ending abruptly 
in a note like who-o-o. Both sexes utter the same note, but that of the male 
is much the loudest. The old males were generally seen about the tops of 
the highest trees, Avhere, if undisturbed, they w'ould remain long enough to 
utter their loud cry tw'o or three times at intervals of from twn to five minutes. 
If a female be near, the male frequently perches on a conspicuous dead tAvig 
in a crouching attitude, rapidly opening and closing his Avings, the feathers 
of Avhich by their peculiar form and texture produce a loud, rustling noise, 
w^hich in the comparative stillness of these solitudes may be heard at the distance 
of a hundred yards, and may be faintly imitated by moAong the feathers of a 
dead skin. The full-plumaged males are much more shy than the females 
or immature birds. According to the testimony of the Cape York natives, 
Avhom I questioned upon the subject, the C. magnifica breeds in a IioIIoaa' tree 
and lays several AA’^hite eggs. The ovary of a female shot in November, the 
commencement of the rainy season, contained a very large and nearly com¬ 
pletely formed egg. From the shyness of this Rifle-Bird, it is difiicult to catch 
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