MACROPYCIA. 



113 



Sub-family MACROPYGIIN.^ 

 Macropygia phasianella. 



LARUE-TAILED PlCiEON. 



Colnnil'a i>ha^Hm>'Ua, T.'min., Tnuis. Linn. Soe., Vol. XIII., p, liO (L'^il). 



Miicro/'i/i/iii /)h,islani'nix, Gould, Ixls. Aiistr., fol. Vol. V., p). 7.') (1S4S); i,/., llaiulljk. Ikls. Austr, 

 Vol. II., p. US (ISO.-)) ; North, Rec. Austr. Mu.s,, Vol. I., p. 117.(1891): Salviid., Cat. lids, 

 lirit. .Mils., Vol. XXI., p :U9(ls;);',) ; Sharpp, llandd. Hd.s., Vol. L, p. 71 (IS',)'..)). 



Anui.r M.M.K. — (rPiti'i-iif rulimr iiJiurr, i.nflniliinj llir iviu(j:<, chrsl init.-broicn, lite qnilh hrairu 

 e.iinrnnlly ff/(/i'il with chf'slii III : tail r/ipatiinl-hrn/r/i, lii'cominy lit/Iilir on ihi- latprat frntlters, irlnrh 

 arr ci-ossfld in ihc centre tritli <i. liJafkish. Iiitml : rroiva of the head eh<stiuit-brouMi, becomiwj lii/hler 

 (in Ihi- fiii-eji.-(v! (in.:/ si'h'f of thr ](e<vl : tlo- iH'ripiil owl Iiinifnerk ijlonse,/ tvith inetallir-t/nen irhen hehl 

 tonmnh the /ii/hl, hut grailualli/ paxsiuy into an amethyst rohmr irhni lo-td <tway from the liijht; all 

 the wiihr surface reddisli-eimiatiwa, possiiu/ into cliestniit on the. muter taH-covertu, the forenexk 

 h.nvimi II iiroiioii.nceil vinon.': jrii^h : " /)/// ifirf o!ired>ro/vii., mealif at the ha.-ie ; iris blue, leith an 

 outer circle of senrtef : orbits inarly lilii ish-/il>ic ; fct piiikrei/" (Gould). '/'otid Iruyth. Vi inches, 

 tidiiq 7-7'i. tail S:'>, liilt Of, tursn^; I'd.') 



AnUI.T FKM.M.K — Sunibir In jilnniili/r to t/ie mule. 



Distrihidioii. — Oueenshind, Xew South W'ales. 



/■-j^lIE Lar.ne-tailed Fi.L;eon is freely dispersed thnju-huut the rich brushes and contiguous 

 X. mountains of the eastern coast of Australia, from Cape York to the Illawarra District 

 of New South Wales. It is strictly an inhabitant of these parts, and is never found in the far 

 Inland portion of the States. In Queensland it has been recorded from many coastal localities, 

 Mr. Frank- 1 lislop noted it at the Bloomlield River, Messrs. E. J. Cann and Robt. Grant obtained 

 adults and yount; in the nei.^hbourhood of Cairns, and the late Mr. W. S. Day found it breeding 

 at Boar Pocket. In the Herbert River District Mr. J. A. lioyd noted it as a migratory 

 species, plentiful in the autumn months, feeding largely on the wild chili peppers, and 

 during the voyage of H.M.S. "Alert" specimens were procured at Port Molle. In South- 

 eastern Queensland it has been recorded by many observers, and in the Australian Museum 

 Collection are specimens from nearly all the coastal districts of New South Wales. On the 

 northern boundary of the State Mr. \V. J. Grime found it breeding in the Tweed River District, 

 Mr. H. K. Elvery in the Richmond River, and Mr. G. Savidge in the Upper Clarence River 

 Districts. It still frequents the brushes at Geria and I'ort Hacking. Like many other species 

 inhabiting the neij;hbourhood of Sydney, for the type was described by Temminck from Port 

 Jackson, it is no longer found near the metropolis, although for many years after it could be 

 obtained at Randwick and Botany. Theie is a specimen in the Australian Museum Collection, 

 procured in the former locality by the late i\Ir. H. Xewcombe. 



Seeds and berries constitute its food, and in the northern coastal districts of New South 

 Wales it evinces a decided preference for the berries of the Ink-weed (Phytolacca octandra). 



Specmiens obtained on the Mulgrave and Russell Rivers, and Mount Bellenden Ker, North- 

 eastern Queensland, are smaller than examples procured on the Clarence and Bellinger Rivers, 

 New South Wales. The wing-measurement of adult males from the former locality is 7-2 to 

 7-4 inches, and from the north-coast districts of New South Wales 775 to 8 inches. Individual 

 variation exists in examples from both States, but principally in the lighter colour of the under 



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