694 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest. — A slight hollow in the ground, with a few loose blades of grass 

 in or around, and sheltered by a tussock. 



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

 glossy ; coloiu", light creamy-white. Dimensions in inches of a proper 

 clutch: (1) 1-05 X -8, (2) 1-03 X -81; of another pair: (1) 1-04 x -8, 

 (2) 1-03 X -8. 



Observations. — The habitat of this extremely interesting species is 

 the great interior. Ihere has been confusion amongst us about the 

 vai'ieties of the httle, plump. Plumed Pigeons. After having examined 

 the fine series of these bu'ds in the Austi-aUan Museum, Mr. North says 

 he cannot but regai-d L. yluinifera and L. leucugaster as referable to the 

 one species. However, the point is by no means settled. 



As little is known of tins small Pigeon, I quote at length 

 Mr. G. A. Keartland's field notes as they appeared iu the " Report of the 

 Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia," May and June, 1894 : 

 '■ At Crown Point, on the IStli May, Mr. Belt secured the first pair of 

 these bii'ds. They proved to be adults, and the female contained a well 

 developed egg in the oviduct. Subsequently I obtained them ui numbers 

 at Lawrie's Creek, Petermann Creek, Hermannbiu-g, and, iu fact, wlierc- 

 ever rocks and water existed, until we reached Crown Point on the retiuii 

 journey, on the 26th July. On several occasions they made a welcome 

 addition to oiu- table, where their beautiful white flesh was much 

 appreciated. Their love of rocky country has gained for them their 

 appellation of ' Rock Pigeons.' They are strictly ground birds, and 

 never perch on trees, but assembled in small companies on the I'ocky sides 

 of the gorges through wliich we passed, where they seemed to enjoy 

 basking in the hot sun. Owing to their colour they are not easily seen 

 on the red sand or rocks. They are easily approached, and when dis- 

 tui'bed rise with a ' whirr ' like a quail ; but as soon as they are well on 

 the wing, they gently glide away, giving a tempting shot. At Stokes' 

 Pass, Hugh Edgar, one of our camel drivers, found a nest, if such it might 

 be called, containuig two yoimg ones, neai'ly able to fly. 'iliey were 

 entirely brown, but others, probably a week older, were foimd, which had 

 developed the white and black on the tlu'oat and head, which were 

 invisible on the nestlings, as tlie feathers had not fonncd on those parts. 

 The birds lay their eggs on the^ ground, generally near a tussock of porcu- 

 pine grass, and place a few loose straws around, but in such a careless 

 manner that it scarcely deserves the name of nest. Subsequently, at 

 Haast's Bluff, Dr. Stirling fovmd several nests containing eggs or young 

 ones. There wei'e never more than two eggs, which are about onc-tliird 

 smaller than those of Uci//ihaps lophotex, and arc of a dull creamy-white 

 coloiu', with rather rough surface and buying the usual glossy suri'ace of 

 Pigeon eggs. I wa.s informed that these birds have never been foiuul 

 further south than Crown Point, on the Fiuke River." 



The statement published by Dr. E. P. Ramsay, when first describing 

 the eggs of this rai-e interior bird, that it lays four eggs, must evidently 

 be an eiror. The Honi Expedition )iever obsei-ved more than two eggs 

 or two young to a nest. Moreover, tliere is no instance of any species 

 of Australian Pigeons laying more than a pair of eggs for a sitting. 



