10 
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., grisciis, grey; -ceps, from L., caput, it is, head. 
Distribution. —Northern Queensland, from Cape York to Rocking¬ 
ham 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¬ 
prised 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, intenvoven with rootlets and tendrils; sparsely 
lined with dead grass and tendrils; on the outside are webs and castings 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 
PtiV-o-ris —Gk, ptUon, feather; Gk, ris, rinos = rhis, nose: mag-nif-i-cus 
—L., magnifcus, 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. 
—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-bird Ptiloris victoria Gould—5A. Female 
victoria —Queen Victoria. 
Distribution. —Northern Queensland. 
Notes. Also called Lesser Rifle-bird. Usually in pairs, frequenting 
