6-6 NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest.^A loose, light structure or platform, three or four inclies in 

 diameter, composed of twigs, portions of climbing plants, and sometimes 

 grass. Usually situated in a low tree or thick bush, in scnib. 



Eggs. — Clutch, two ; roundish in shape ; texture of shell fine ; 

 surface glossy ; colour, pure white. Dimensions in inclies of a proper 

 clutch ; (1) 1-04 X -82, {'2) rO x "8 ; of a larger pair taken at Coomooboo- 

 laroo: (1) M5 x -91, (2) M4 x -86. 



Ohservatinns. — Tliis gentle creatvire enjoys a goodly range throughout 

 Northern and the gi-eater part of Eastern Australia down to New South 

 Wales. I am not aware that it has ever been seen in Victoria, as 

 indicated on Gould's and on Ramsay's Tabular Lists. It prefers forested 

 and scrubby localities. 



I hiv3 pleasant memories about the Baned-shouldered Doves, that 

 continually called loudly " coo^coo-coo-a " about our Cardwell camp. 

 The birds were numerous on the flats, feeding upon seeds, &c. 'We found 

 them delicious eating when ha.shed with sweet potatoes. We took a 

 nest containing two eggs, from which we flushed the brooding bird, in 

 a bushy tree near tlie beach. The nest was at a height of eiglit or ten 

 feet from the ground. Date, 4tli August, 1885. 



Mr. A. J. North has described a set of eggs taken by the late 

 Mr. Geo. Barnard, Coomooboolaroo, Queensland, in 1883. I had the 

 pleasure of going through Mr. Bamnrd's collection two years after that 

 date, and even then, as far as I recollect, the species was not amongst 

 the eggs therein. 



Eggs have been taken in Queensland as late in the season as 15th 

 April — between August and March is probably the principal breeding 

 season. However, Mr. Ltu ha.s taken eggs in July in Southern Queens- 

 1 md, where he found this Dove mostly in the open places between the 

 clumps of brigalow, eighteen miles to the west of Yandilla. 



542 — Geopelia tranquilla, Gould. — (472 and 473) 

 G. 'plnr.ida, Gould. 



GROUND DOVE. 



Figure. — GouM : Birds of Australia, fol., vnl. v., pi. 73. 



Referi'nce. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 456. 



Prtviom Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsav : Proc. T.inn. .Snr., N.S. 

 Wales, vol. vii., p. 154 (18S2) ; Camplicll : Scuilliorii Science 

 Record (1SS3). 



Gengni iiJiiifil Bhtrihnfltiiu — Wliole of Australia. 



Neaf. — A small, slight platform, about two or three inches in diameter, 

 composed of twigs and rootlets, or just sufficient materials to ensure the 

 safety of the contents. Usually placed on a horizontal limb of a tree, 

 where branches or suckers shoot, often overhanging a stream. 



