rifle-bird

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


sometimes called also Rifleman (q.v.); a bird of paradise. The male is of ageneral velvety black, something like the uniform of the RifleBrigade. This peculiarity, no doubt, gave the bird its name,but, on the other hand, settlers and local naturalistssometimes ascribe the name to the resemblance they hear in thebird's cry to the noise of a rifle being fired and its bulletstriking the target. The Rifle-bird is more famed forbeauty of plumage than any other Australian bird. There arethree species, and they are of the genus Ptilorhis,nearly related to the Birds of Paradise of New Guinea, wherealso is found the only other known species of Ptilorhis.The chief species is Ptilorhis paradisea, Lath., theother two species were named respectively, after the Queen andthe late Prince Consort, Victoriae and Alberti,but some naturalists have given them other generic names.

As to the name, see also quotation, 1886. See Manucode.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 194:

«We saw . . . a rifle-bird.»

1886. `Encyclopaedia Britannica,' vol. xx. p. 553:

«Rifleman-Bird, or Rifle-Bird, names given . . . probablybecause in coloration it resembled the well-known uniform ofthe rifle-regiments of the British army, while in its long andprojecting hypochondriac plumes and short tail a furtherlikeness might be traced to the hanging pelisse and the jacketformerly worn by the members of those corps.» – – [Footnote]:«Curiously enough its English name seems to be first mentionedin ornithological literature by Frenchmen – – Lesson andGarnot – – in 1828, who say ( Voy. `Coquille,' Zoologie,p. 669) that it was applied `pour rappeler que ce fut un soldatde la garnison [of New South Wales] qui le tua le premier,'which seems to be an insufficient reason, though the statementas to the bird's first murderer may be true.»

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 171:

«It was an Australian bird of paradise, the celebrated

Rifle-bird ( Ptilorhis victoriae), which, according to Gould, has the most brilliant plumage of all Australian birds.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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