As to the name, see also quotation, 1886. See <i>Manucode</i>.
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 . . . probably because in coloration it resembled the well-known uniform of the rifle-regiments of the British army, while in its long and projecting hypochondriac plumes and short tail a further likeness might be traced to the hanging pelisse and the jacket formerly worn by the members of those corps."— [Footnote]: "Curiously enough its English name seems to be first mentioned in ornithological literature by Frenchmen—Lesson and Garnot—in 1828, who say (<i>Voy. `Coquille,' Zoologie</i>, p. 669) that it was applied `pour rappeler que ce fut un soldat de la garnison [of New South Wales] qui le tua le premier,' which seems to be an insufficient reason, though the statement as 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 (<i>Ptilorhis victoriae</i>), which, according to
Gould, has the most brilliant plumage of all Australian birds."
<hw>Rifleman</hw>, <i>n</i>. a bird of New Zealand, <i>Acanthidositta chloris</i>, Buller; Maori name, <i>Titipounamu</i>. See quotation. The name is sometimes applied also to the <i>Rifle-bird</i> (q.v.).
1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 113:
"<i>Acanthidositta chloris</i>, Buller. The rifleman is the smallest of our New Zealand birds. It is very generally distributed."