244 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



Johanna and P. Hairii, from thu Duke of York nn.l .S:mioan Islan.ls resi)ectivcly, 

 may be named. All the species possess fourteen tail-feathers. 



The members of the i;enus Phaps are eonfined to Australia, where they are known 

 as the bronze- winged pigeons. They are distributed generally all over that continent, 

 are fine plump birds, weighing about a j)Ound apiece, and afford excellent food. They 

 bree.l sometiiiu's on the ground, sometimes in the fork of a tree, are exceedingly 

 lift in flight, and are capable of traversing great extent of country, during the sea- 

 n of dro\ight, in search of water, in a vOry brief i)eriod of time. The species, of 

 which there are three, possess a very attractive j.lumage, and derive their trivial name 

 from the lustrous coi)pery bronze spots upon the coverts of the wing. The tail con- 

 sists of sixteen feathers. 



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Km. 117. — Callaiuu nicobarica, Nicobnr pigeon. 



ItOphophaps and Oeoj)haps .ire also also Australian genera, the fii-st containing 

 three, and the last two species. The members of Lopltnphitps arc lovely birds, having, 

 as their generic name im))lies, a long crest rising from the centre of the head, the 

 back and wings being crossed with rusty-red and brown bands, and met.iUic bronzy- 

 purple mark on the secondaries. They are small birds about eight inches long, con- 

 gregate on the ground, and rise, when disturbed, like (piails, plunging immediately in 

 the long gr.ass for concealment. The sjiecies of the other genus are larger birds, with 

 j)eculiar black and white markings on the face and throat in one ( G. scripUi), .•md 

 orange bl.ick and white in the other G. sntithii. They are strictly terrestrial in their 

 habits, and in their carriage and action similar to a jiartridge. They go .at times in 

 pairs, but frequently in coveys, and, when approachoil, run and hide in the grass. 

 Tliey rise with a loud noise .and fly with great rapidity, t.akiug refuge in the nearest 

 tree. The eggs are laid on the gi'ound, but no nest is made. 



