_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PTILORIS PARADISEUS, _Swains._
Rifle Bird.
_Ptiloris paradiseus_, Swains. Zool. Journ., vol. i. p. 481.—Ib.
Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 331.—Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn.,
vol. i. pls. 43 male, 44 female.—Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen.
Zool., vol. xiv. p. 267.
_Epimachus regius_, Less. Zool. de la Coq., pl. 28, male.—Ib. Cent. de
Zool., pl. 3, female.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p. 320.
—— _Brisbanii_, Wils. Ill. of Zool., pl. xi.
_Ptiloris paradisea_, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit., p.
15.
Hitherto this magnificent bird has only been discovered in the brushes
of the south-eastern portion of Australia; so limited in fact does its
range of habitat seem to be, that the river Hunter to the southward, and
Moreton Bay to the eastward, may be considered its natural boundaries in
either direction. I have been informed by several persons who have seen
it in its native wilds that it possesses many habits in common with the
_Climacteri_, and that it ascends the upright boles of trees precisely
after the manner of those birds. It was a source of regret to me that I
had no opportunity of verifying these assertions, but an examination of
the structure of the bird induces me to believe that it is more nearly
allied to the members of that genus than to any other: that its powers
of flight are very limited, is certain from the shortness and peculiarly
truncate form of the wing, and this mode of progression is doubtless
seldom resorted to further than to transport the bird from tree to tree,
or from one part of the forest to another. That it is stationary in the
brushes of the Clarence, MacLeay, and all similar districts between the
river Hunter and the settlement at Moreton Bay, is evident from the
numerous specimens of all ages that have been sent from thence to
Europe.
The _Ptiloris paradiseus_ is without exception the most gorgeously
plumaged bird yet discovered in Australia: the sexes offer the greatest
possible difference in the colouring of their plumage; for while the
male is adorned with hues only equalled by some species of the
_Trochilidæ_ or Humming-Birds, the dress of the female is as sombre as
can well be imagined. The law which exists wherever there is a great
difference in the colouring of the sexes causes many parti-coloured
changes of plumage in the immature males during the period of moulting,
which however during the first year, and probably for a longer period,
cannot be distinguished from the females.
The adult male has the general plumage rich velvety black, glossed on
the upper surface with brownish lilac; under surface similar to the
upper, but all the feathers of the abdomen and flanks broadly margined
with rich olive-green; feathers of the head and throat small,
scale-like, and of a shining metallic blue-green; two centre
tail-feathers rich shining metallic green, the remainder deep black;
bill and feet black.
The female has the whole of the upper surface greyish brown; the wings
and tail edged with ferruginous; the feathers of the head with a narrow
line of white down the centre; line passing down the side of the head
from behind the eye, chin and throat, huffy white; all the under surface
deep buff, each feather with a black arrow-headed-shaped mark near the
tip.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the size of life.
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