THE BIRDS OF CUOLABAH AND BREWARRINA— NORTH. 157 



was rare, indeed, that one or more of these little Doves was 

 not to be seen about the yard or stables, feeding upon the 

 ground. At Brewarriiia, they came right up to the kitchen of 

 the Barwon Hotel, which is situated in Bathurst-street, the 

 busiest thoroughfare in the town. In addition to their well- 

 known notes somewhat resembling the sounds of the words 

 " Holly-Hock," or" Holly-Oak," they emit occasionally during 

 the breeding season a far-away harsh grating note, like that of 

 the Crane (Oriis tuistralasiaini) or '■^'Native CompHmou.^^ Com- 

 parative with its size this species has one of the loudest notes 

 of any of our Australian birds. During the last ten years the 

 Peaceful Dove has largely increased in the neighbourhood of 

 Sydney, especially in the suburbs of the Milson's Point Line. 

 At the time of my leaving home for this trip, a pair were nest- 

 ing in a large pine, in a garden directly opposite my house. 



Phaps chalcoptkra. 



Bronze-Wing. 



Golumba olialcoptera. Lath., lud. Orn., ii., p. 60-i (1796). 



Peristera chalcoptera, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., v., pi. 64 (1848). 



Phaps chalcoptera, Gould, Handbk. Bds. Austr., ii., p. 122 

 (1865) ; Salvad.,Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., xxi., p. 526 (1893); 

 North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., iv., pt. ii. p. 127 

 (1913). 



Fairly numerous, at times, at Coolabah I was informed, but at 

 the time of my trip, I only saw examples in confinement, that 

 had been trapped in the neighbourhood. One of these birds 

 was caught by entering an open wired enclosure adjoining an 

 aviary, containing a caged compatriot, among other birds. 

 Usually found in Acacia scrub and dead thistle-beds. The 

 Bronze-Wing generally comes to drink at some dam or water- 

 hole about sundown, and frequently after it is quite daik. 

 Many birds are consequentl}' killed by flying against wire 

 fences, the heads often being found on one side of the fence and 

 the bodies on the other. Numbers of these birds too, are 

 killed by poison laid for rabbits, or by drinking poisoned 

 water, intended for rabbits, which is generally surrounded 

 with wire-netting to prevent stock getting access to it. 

 Tenanted nests of the Bronze-Wing, are more numerous in the 

 spring and summer, but they may be found in any month 

 of the year. 



