An Australian Bird Book Part 4

Nom. v.r. _marshy_ 6

Upper dark-brown with buff, black lines; breast sandy-red; abdomen whitish; no hind toe; f., much larger, brighter.

Weed-seeds, insects.

=10 Little Quail= (Dottrel, Swift-flying, b.u.t.ton), _T. velox_, A.

Nom. c. _open plains_ 5.5

Upper rufous with chestnut, black lines; breast rufous; abdomen white; no hind toe; f., much larger. Weed-seeds, insects.

1 1

=11* Plain Wanderer=, Turkey Quail, _Pedionomus torquatus_, A.

exc. W.A.

Mig. r. _gra.s.s_, m., 4.8; f., 6.3

Brown; broad black, white spotted collar; light band on wing; breast chestnut; hind toe; m., smaller, paler, faint collar.

Weed-seeds, insects.

F. 15. _Pteroclididae_, Sand-Grouse, Rock-Pigeons (e), 17 sp.--7(2)O., 8(1)P., 12(7)E.

In Order IV. come those well-known birds--the "Cooers," Pigeons and Doves. The Australian region is the great stronghold of these often beautiful birds. It is only in this region that members of each of the five families of living Pigeons are found. Two of the five families are peculiar to the region, and nearly half the kinds of Pigeons known are found here. The finest and largest of all Pigeons are the large Crowned Pigeons of New Guinea. Unfortunately, the heads of these Pigeons are much in demand for millinery. Would that fas.h.i.+onable women knew the cruelty and devastation wrought by such fas.h.i.+ons!

Amongst the most beautiful of Pigeons are, as Dr. Newton remarked, the common Bronzewing Pigeons of Australia and Tasmania. The lovely Fruit-Pigeons of East Australian scrubs are, perhaps, the most beautiful of all, so it will readily be seen how fortunate we are with regard to these birds.

The fine large Wonga-Wonga Pigeon is becoming rare. Its flesh is white, so Gould named it _Leucosarcia_ (white flesh). It has been proposed to introduce this bird into Europe to breed for table purposes.

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ORDER IV.--COLUMBIFORMES, PIGEONS, DOVES.

F. 16. TRERONIDAE (8), FRUIT-PIGEONS, 228 sp--159(155)A., 60(56)O., 1(1)P., 12(12)E.

2 2

=12 Topknot Pigeon=, _Lopholaimus antarcticus_, E.A., T.

(acc.) "Quook-quook."

Stat. c. _thick brushes_ 17

"This n.o.ble pigeon;" under silvery-gray; upper dark-gray; crest rust-red; eyes orange; f., sim. Native fruits.

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F. 17. COLUMBIDAE (2), WOOD-PIGEONS, Pa.s.senger-Pigeon, Rock-Dove, 119 sp.--41(40)A., 25(17)O., 18(10)P., 19(17)E., 4(0)Nc., 24(20)Nl.

F. 18. PERISTERIDAE (15), GROUND-PIGEONS, Turtle-Doves, 198 sp.--61(55)A., 21(8)O., 10(1)P., 32(30)E., 10(0)Nc., 86(76)Nl.

1 6

=12^A Indian Turtle-Dove=, _Turtur ferrago_, Siberia to Ceylon, introduced A.

Mig. c. _gardens_, _cities_ 13

Back brown; head gray; broad patch side and back of neck black spotted white; breast cinnamon; centre tail feathers blackish, rest tipped white; f., sim. Seeds.

3 5

=13 Ground Dove= (Peaceful), Doo-doo, _Geopelia placida_, A.

(interior).

Stat. r. _gra.s.sy_ 8.7

Upper ashy-brown, barred black; chest, hind-neck gray with black lines; abdomen fawn; side tail feathers tipped white; f., sim.

Small seeds. "Doo-doo."

=14* Diamond Dove= (Little, Turtle), _G. cuneata_, A. (interior).

Stat. r. _gra.s.s_ 8.2

Upper light-brown; crown gray; under light-gray; white spots on wing; side tail tipped white; eye red; f., neck, chest pale brown. Seeds.

1 6

=15 Little Green Pigeon=, _Chalcophaps chrysochlora_, Mol., N. Heb., N. Cal., Lord Howe Is., A. exc. S.A., W.A. Melancholy bellowing note.

v.r. _dense scrubs_ 9.5

Rich brown; head, short tail darker; wings much green; shoulder white; f., less brilliant. Fallen berries.

2 2

=16* Bronzewing Pigeon= (Scrub), _Phaps chalcoptera_, A., T.

Nom. c. _open_, _forest_ 13.5

Upper brown marked lighter; cap whitish; line below eye, throat white; breast, back of head vinous; bronze wing; legs red; f., head gray. Seeds, fruits.

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