688 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



in the Dobroyde collection was taken during July, 1868, hardly 

 I venture to state, proves his case. 



548. — Petrophassa albipennis, Gould. — (470) 

 ROCK PIGEON. 



Figure. — Gould : Bird;; of Australi;i, fol., vol. v., pi. 71. 

 Rejerence. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 5;io. 



GeayrdiihicdJ JJisfri/iiifioii. — North west Australia. 

 Nest and Egg^. — Undcscribed. 



Observations. — Gould, who described the rare Rock Pigeon, states : 

 " This highly singular species of Pigeon is an inhabitant of the most 

 rugged and sterile districts of the North-west coast of Australia. 

 Specimens were sent to nie bj' one of the officers of the ' Beagle," 

 but, I regret to .say, were unaccompanied by any jinrticulars respecting 

 their history. Writing to me from the Victoria River, Mr. Elsey 

 states that it is common among the sandstone cUfls of the ranges. 

 The form of the wing would lead us to imagine that in many parts of 

 its cconomv this species much resembles those of the members of the 

 genus Genplinp.t : but on these points nothing can be ascertained with 

 certainty, until the productions of those remote parts of Australia 

 have been carefully investigated, a period which, from the inliospitable 

 character of the country, I fear, is far cUstant. ' 



Gould's predictions have so far, up to date, proved correct, because 

 absolutely nothing has been yet learned about the economy of the 

 Rock Pigeon. It is one of the three members of tlie Australian 

 Cdluwlnc, the eggs of which we are unacquainted with. 



549. — Petrophassa rufipennis, CoUett. 

 CHESTNUT-QUILLED ROCK PIGEON. 



Figure. — Proc. Zool. Soc, pi. 28 (1898). 

 Rcjereiue. — I'roc. Zool. Soc, p. 354 (1898). 



Cii-(i(ir(i]>hir(i} Dixiriliiitiitn . — Northern Territory. 



Nest and Eggs.- — -Undescribed. 



Ohxirvatioiis. — This new variety of Rock Pigeon was discovered by 

 Dr. Dahl 19th June, 1895, on the South Alligator River, Northern 

 Territorv. 



