110 BIRDS or AUSTRALIA. 



Genus MEGALOPREPIA, Reichenbach. 



The species of this genus are widely dispersed over Eastern 

 Austraha, New Guinea, and the adjacent islands. Strictly 

 arboreal in their habits, and feeding entirely upon fruits, 

 berries, and seeds, they frequent the towering fig-trees when 

 their fruit is ripe, and the lofty palms for the sake of their 

 large round seeds. Their short tarsi and dilated feet are 

 admirably adapted for clasping the branches. Two species 

 inhabit Australia. 



Sp. 454. MEGALOPREPIA MAGNIFICA. 



Magnificent Eruit-Pigeon. 



Columha maynijica, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 125. 

 Carpophaga magnifica, Selby in Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. v. Pigeons, p. 115. 

 Megaloprepia magnifica, Reich. Syst. Av., tab. 33. figs. 1299, 1300. 



Carpophaga magnifica, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. v. pi. 58. 



This splendid bird, the finest of the Pigeons yet discovered 

 in Australia, is abundant in all the brushes on the south-east 

 portion of that country, but is less numerous in the Illawarra 

 district than in the neighbourhood of the rivers Macquarrie, 

 Clarence, and Macleay ; how far its range may extend from 

 thence to the northward has yet to be ascertained ; I did not 

 observe it in any of the brushes clothing the ranges of the 

 interior. Its chief food is the wild fig and the nut-like fruit 

 of the large palms. It is rather a shy bird, and from its 

 quiet habits is not easily discovered, unless it betrays its 

 presence by the hoarse, loud, and monotonous note, which is 

 frequently uttered by the male during the pairing-season. 

 This note is so extraordinary, and so unlike that of any other 

 bird, that it causes the utmost surprise and wonderment as 

 to what it can proceed from, in the minds of those persons 

 who hear it for the first time. J 



