RASORES. 113 



have ai)plied the name of Brushes. I found it very numerous 

 on Mosquito and the other low islands near the mouth of the 

 river Hunter, as well as in the cedar brushes of the Liverpool 

 range ; I .believe that it breeds in both those districts ; and 

 that it never quits these luxuriant forests for other parts of the 

 country is more than probable, as a plentiful supply of fruits 

 and berries is furnished by the various trees at every season 

 of the year ; the wild fig, the palm-nut, and the wild grape 

 constitute a considerable portion of its food. The slender 

 branches are often borne down by its weight, particularly 

 when it clings to the extreme end of the spray to obtain 

 the best and ripest fruit; in this mode of clinging and in 

 many of its actions it far more resembles the larger Honey- 

 eaters and Parrots than the Pigeons; the structure of its 

 foot is beautifully adapted for the duties it is intended to 

 perform. 



The powers of flight of this species are very great, its 

 voluminous wing enabling it to pass from one part of the 

 forest to another in a comparatively short space of time ; hence 

 flocks may frequently be observed passing over the tops of 

 the trees, forsaking a locality they have exhausted of its 

 supplies, and in search of another where food is more 

 abundant. 



The nest of this species, like those of other Pigeons, is a 

 shght flat structure formed of small sticks and twigs ; the 

 eggs are frequently only one, and never more than two in 

 number, of a pure white. 



The sexes may be distinguished by the smaller size of the 

 female, and by her colours being less strongly contrasted 

 than those of the male, the yellowish white of the head 

 and breast blending into the darker colouring of the other 

 parts. 



The male has the head, neck, and breast white, washed 

 with buff", particularly on the crown ; all the upper surface, 

 wings, and tail greyish black ; all the feathers of the back, 



VOL. II. I 



