<hw>Ribgrass</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian name for the <i>Native Plantain</i>. See <i>Plantain</i>.

<hw>Rice-flower</hw>, <i>n</i>. a gardeners' name for the cultivated species of <i>Pimalea</i> (q.v.). The <i>Rice-flowers</i> are beautiful evergreens about three feet high, and bear rose-coloured, white, and yellow blooms.

<hw>Rice-shell</hw>, <i>n</i>. The name is applied elsewhere to various shells; in Australia it denotes the shell of various species of <i>Truncatella</i>, a small marine mollusc, so called from a supposed resemblance to grains of rice, and used for necklaces.

<hw>Richea</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian <i>Grasstree</i> (q.v.), <i>Richea pandanifolia</i>, Hook., <i>N.O. Liliaceae</i>.

1850. `Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land,' May 8, vol. i. p. 278:

"A section . . . of the stem of the graceful palm-like Richea (<i>Richea pandanifolia</i>), found in the dense forests between Lake St. Clair and Macquarie Harbour, where it attains the height of 40 to 50 feet in sheltered positions,—the venation, markings, and rich yellow colouring of which were much admired."

1878. Rev. W. W. Spicer, `Handbook of the Plants of Tasmania,' p. 125:

Richea pandanifolia, H. Giant Grass Tree. Peculiar to
Tasmania. Dense forests in the interior and SW."

<hw>Ridge-Myrtle</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Myrtle</i>.

<hw>Rifle-bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. sometimes called also <i>Rifleman</i> (q.v.); a bird of paradise. The male is of a general velvety black, something like the uniform of the Rifle Brigade. This peculiarity, no doubt, gave the bird its name, but, on the other hand, settlers and local naturalists sometimes ascribe the name to the resemblance they hear in the bird's cry to the noise of a rifle being fired and its bullet striking the target. The <i>Rifle-bird</i> is more famed for beauty of plumage than any other Australian bird. There are three species, and they are of the genus <i>Ptilorhis</i>, nearly related to the Birds of Paradise of New Guinea, where also is found the only other known species of <i>Ptilorhis</i>. The chief species is <i>Ptilorhis paradisea</i>, Lath., the other two species were named respectively, after the Queen and the late Prince Consort, <i>Victoriae</i> and <i>Alberti</i>, but some naturalists have given them other generic names.