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Show 1875.] BIRDS FROM QUEENSLAND. 599 Seldom more than one adult male is found to every quarter of a square mile of scrub ; and so little do they wander about, that it was customary for me to return to the same locality day after day until I had shot the bird, being quite sure of hearing him calling if he had not been destroyed in the mean time. These old males are usually solitary ; but two or more occasionally meet in some favourite feeding-tree, when a fight is sure to ensue ; for, although closely resembling the Climacteris in their actions, they differ in this respect, that they may occasionally be found feeding on the fruit of the native tamarind (Tamarindus australis). The natives informed me that the Rifle-bird lays its eggs, which are white, in the hollow branch of a tree without making any nest whatever-which is not improbable. 150. PTILORHIS VICTORIES. The great stronghold of this species is the Bernard Islands northeast of Cardwell, a short distance from the coast. It is at times found on Hinchenbrook Islands, seldom on Gould and Dunk Islands, but not unfrequently in the dense scrubs clothing the coast-range near Cardwell. Once only did I meet with it on the Herbert river. Their note and habits closely resemble those of P. paradisea. They were in full moult during the time of m y visit, February and and March, and did not regain their livery until May. 151. CLIMACTERIS SCANDENS. Not scarce in the open forest-land on the banks of the Upper Herbert river. 152. CLIMACTERIS LEUCOPH^EA. Met with on one or two occasions on the margins of scrubs on the Herbert river &c. 153. ORTHONYX SPALDINGI, Ramsay, P. Z.S. 1868, p. 386. In habits and actions this fine species closely assimilates to 0. spinicauda, but is far more retiring and shy, much more noisy, and may be heard more frequently than seen. The young attains the adult plumage after the first moult, which takes place about December. They breed in September and October; and I believe the young then hatched moult in February and March, judging from a very tine series of skins I then procured. This species has the habit of scratching up the dead leaves, and throwing the debris far behind it, after the manner of the "Scrub-hens" (Megapodius tumulus). Its powers of mimicry are very great; and, like the Lyre-birds, it seems capable of imitating almost any sound. These birds are not only rare, but at all times very difficult to obtain, and appear to be confined to the thickly timbered scrubs on the steep and rugged sides of the coast-range near Cardwell. 154. SITTELLA STRIATA, Gould, Suppl. B. Aust. pl. 54. I mentioned this species as the young of S. leucoptera in P. Z. S. |