.VESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTA'AL/A.V BIRDS. 6iJ3 



up stream fi-om where Biu'ke perished. Such ai-e the data of the ih-st 

 eggs of this species described. So that there could be no confusion 

 between the Rust-coloiu-ed Pigeon and the White-belHed variety, I 

 showed Mr. Walker the plates of both as figiu-ed in Gould. He 

 unhesitatingly identified the fomicr species as the parent of the eggs 

 he founil. Probably he is open to correction, and the bird 

 was really the White-bellied variety (L. leucoyader) ; but I have 

 examined eggs of the North-west species f L. ferruyima), which are 

 absolutely luidistinguishable from L. leucuyaster, therefore my original 

 description may stand. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland, from personal observations, writes ; " The 

 North-west pai-t of Australia appears to be the home of this species. In 

 habits and appearance at a distance they closely resemble L. hiinigustcr 

 of Central Australia. In some rocky countiy near Gorda Town we saw 

 these Pigeons for the first time. Several single birds were distm-bed 

 as wc passed the base of the hills, but soon afterwards large coveys, con- 

 sisting of about one hiuidied birds, passed from their feeding giouud to 

 the hiUs. At the homestead of Liverynga Station, I am infonned they 

 are very abundant in the hills close by, and are so tame that as many 

 as a dozen bu-ds may be seen under the verandah seeking shelter from the 

 hot sun, or chinking from a dish of water placed for their convenience. 

 They aie also plentiful near the Margaret and Gascoyne Rivers. They 

 deposit their two creamy-white eggs on the grovuid beneath the shade 

 of a spinifex tussock in a slight depression in the ground, in which a few 

 bits of grass ai'e collected. I am indebted to Mr. J. Hanis, of Fitzroy 

 River, for the clutch in the collection." These egg's were taken in 

 Februaiy or March (1897), and have been described by Mr. North as 

 " swollen ellipses in shape, and of a iinifonn pale cream-coloiu', the gi'ain 

 of the shell being vei^y fine, and its surface slightly glossy." Dimensions 

 in inches : (1) -94 x -77, (2) -9 x -77. 



I knew of another pair of eggs, taken on tlie Minilga, Western 

 Australia, 1 2th September, while the birds themselves have been observed 

 as far south as the Champion Bay district. 



Chief breeding season probably from October to March, but the birds 

 may lay at any period of the year. 



554. LoPHOPHAPS LEUCOGASTEE, Gould. 



WHITE-BELLIED PLUMED PIGEON. 



figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., supp., pi. 69. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 535. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. i., 2nd ser., p. 1095 (1S86). 



Geoyraphical Diifrihiifinn. — Northern Territory, interior of Qvieens- 

 land (probably), and South Australia. 



