ves

{ Wow ae oe

Ne

fr)

L

‘AS
AP ae

a

Af!

¥

P | | |
| pund, and the bird sat quietly, notwithstanding we were camped about Areneee away fom
from the ground, é tly, |
1 j incubé f whic

d ne a sinele egg, the incubation 0
here was a single egg, J !
i between the nest and eggs taken by Mr. French’s collector and the last found by Mr. Le Soup
difference be st o¢

all that, after critical examination,

h had probably lasted for about seven days.’ There is a

F Iam not prepared to say that they are not of the same species, only
or :
found under different conditions—one nd | .

island. The nests are similarly constructed, while the general colour of the eggs is alike, with the exearail
is spotted, the other streaked. However, the nest and egg now exhibited by Mr. Le Souéf nae

taken inland in a dense scrub, the other found by the sea-shore on a

that one
described as follows :—

«© Nest.—Somewhat loosely construc
be seen two large concave-shaped dead leaves underneath pieces of dry

ted of broad dead leaves and green branchlets of climbing plants and

fbrous material. Inside may
tendrils which form a springy lining for the egg or young to rest upon. Measurement in centimetres—oyer
all, 19 broad by 9 deep ; egg-cavity, 9 across the mouth by 4 deep.

« Eve.—In shape nearly oval, but a little stouter about the upper quarter. Shell somewhat lustrous,
Pawn ealtamns 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 1:28 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 eve
3:14 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 ege of the Victoria Rifle-bird taken by Mr. Le Souef, who bas kindly forwarded me a
photograph of them.

 

i= EEE Eee

 

 

 

He has give ee
Pe rnc . i taking of the nest, in the ‘Victorian Naturalist’ for
. i : ase rine ds ap , ‘ . é ‘ : \
Reem Ric binds Afi: ie Cece and scrambled Oven the Islan still seancliing ke the
any nests in such thick vevetation. ; ; 1¢ birds showed themselves, but it was a difficult thing to discover
neue opie os andl we thought our task a hopeless one. Once we came across a large
ee Muuking it might be the one we wanted, one of us sat down a short distance away
i ee aie oe to it. A male Rifle-bird soon put in an appearaite
position heing to gceta : clung to a vine and went through all sorts of antics, one favourite

h its XX Pe \ 2S ab ve It
. Pe eX] anded VINO'S al y
| a} lt }

fee nding its
1our it flew away,

and watched it qu

and uttered its gr

caer s head until the tips touched, and then hiding its head
Shortly ee py side to the other. After going on for about a quarter of an
determined to watch her move | nee to the camp, we again heard the female Rifle-bird near us, so We

movements, Mr. Barnard went to one side of the small patch of scrub and I went