IK; PERISTEKm.l-.. 



Family PERISTERID^. 

 Sub-family GEOPELIIN^. 



Geopelia humeralis. 



B A R K E D - S H U L D K K E I ) D V E. 



rolinnhi, huinrni/is, Tpuini-, Tnins. Linn. Soc, Vol, XIII., p. 12S (1S21). 



Geoprlialnnm-raJix, Oould, Bds. Austr,, fol. Vol. V., pi. 72 (ISl.S); Salvad , Cat. Hds. lirit. Mus., 



Vol. XXI., p. 4ri5 (1893); Sliarpp, Hand-l. lids.. Vol. I., p. SO (ISlli)). 

 Eri/llirani-lid iia Innnmilis, Gould, HandUk. Bds. Austr., Vol. II., p. 1 |-.' (ISC.'i). 



Adult M.M>K. — dni'^ral cohm.!- alicre, iin-liii/i ii;/ tin' iipjur ii-i Ill/corf >-/^ j'lilr bimcit, llif liimliitck 

 lii/Jit rufdua, all llii' fratJu'i-x aii tJn-itf paria ii:ith ii iTi'siyti/ii- lilnck mnrl;itiij iil ihrir I'tpa ; (juilh broii it, 

 darker in tin' basal porlion nf llic viiler tcfhs, tin' ijtiinr tcfhs, r.rct'pl at t/ir tip-, rich i-iiiudinoii ; upper 

 fail-cover/s like iJie /tack, tin- Iniirjer ones stijl'iised irilh grey, partiruturl ij tieur llie slinjlx : eruiral pair 

 iif t<iil feathers (_/ri i/isJi-hniu^n. the ue.rt on either side slif/ht/i/ dark' ,-, nnd liari/Kj tin n- inner iielis tiexl 

 the shaft stnine/fy shaded iidlh rn,f(nis-chestnnl ; the remainder rn funs-chest niit tipped tcilli irhi/e ; 

 forehead anel siucipn.t yreij, paler oil the former : feathers on the iiape ptde hrn/rn, sliijlithj tinyed iiith 

 viiionn, and cnnspicninifily maryitied arnnnd their lips icith black : cheeks throat, fireneck, sides of 

 neck and npper brenst ilelieate grey, tin' feathers on the sides of the neck slightly darker and margined 

 ivitli black aronvd the tips: the chin irhitish : loii'er breast delicate rinons, graduidly passing into 

 pare irhile on the abdomen, and under tail corerts ; under tring-corerls rich cinnamon : bill pale bine ; 

 leqs and feet cm-al-red : iris yelbnr. Total length in the jbsh l..'i! inclo'S, iviitg i'r?.',, tail 'r75, bill 

 I) 7, tarsns 11. 



Adult KK:m.\LK Similar in plnmaye to the male. 



Dislribntion. — Nurtli-westei n .Australia, Northern Teiritory of South .Xuslralia, (Queensland, 

 New South Wales. 



^Tj^HE ran^e of the Daned-shouldered Dove extends over the coastal and contiguous districts 

 -L of North-western, Northern and the j^'reater portion of liaslern Australia; it also 

 inhabits the islands of Torres Strait and the southern parts of New Guinea. In i886 the late 

 Mr. T. H. r.owyer-ISower and i\lr. Ii. J. Cairn procured specimens near Derby. In 1S96-7 

 Mr. G. A. Keartland found it numerous in the dense timber along the banks of the Fitzroy 

 Kiver, where it was breeding in the Ijauhinia-trees. In the Northern Territory of South 

 Australia specimens were obtained at Port I'>arwin by the late Mr. James Spalding. I have also 

 seen many living birds in the dealer's shops in Sydney, from I'ort Darwin. In Queensland Mr. 

 R. Hislop has obtained its nests and eggs on the I3loomlield Kiver, Mr. K. Grant procured birds 

 at Cairns, and the late Mr. Cjeorge Barnard and his sons have lrc<]uenlly taken its nests and 

 et;gs at Coomoolioolaroo, Duaringa, on the Dawson River. In the .Australian Museum are 

 skins procured by the late Mr. George Masters, at Gayndah, on the iSurnelt River and at Pine 

 Mountain. In New South Wales it is principally found in the northern coastal districts, the late 

 Mr. J. .v. Thorpe procurim.; a line series of skins near liallina, at the entiance of the Richmond 

 River. I have never seen or heard of this Dove being obtained in the southern parts of the State. 

 Mr. Robt. Grant has handed me the followmg note: — "The only place where 1 have met 

 with the I-!arted-shouldered Dove (G(opclia humeralis) was at Cairns, North-eastern Queensland, 

 and its neighbourhood. I shot one feeding on the ground close to a garden, and another was 

 llushed among some Cork-screw Palms, almost m the township; settling in a sapling near by I 



