146 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Genus STICTOPELIA, Reichenhach, 



I consider that Dr. Reichenbach was warranted in making 

 the elegant Columha cuneata the type of a new genus ; it is 

 the only one of the form at present known. 



Sp. 474. STICTOPELIA CUNEATA. 



Little Turtle-Dove. 



Columba cuneata, Lath. Ind. Orn., Supp. p. 61. 



macquaiie, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de PUranie, Ois., t. 31. 



spiloptera, Vig. in Zool. Journ., vol. v. p. 275. 



Geopelia cuneata, G. R. Gray, List of Brit. Mus. Coll., part iii. p. 11. 

 Stictopelia cuneata, Reich. Syst. Av., tab. 250. figs. 1387-1389. 

 Men-na-brun-ka, Aborigines of Western Australia. 

 Turtle Dove, Colonists of Swan River. 



Geopelia cuneata, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. v. pi. 74. 



I have seen specimens of this elegant little Dove from 

 every one of the Australian colonies. It is rarely met with 

 on the seaside of the mountain ranges, but occurs in con- 

 siderable numbers on the plains of the interior. 



" All that we read or imagine of the softness and innocence 

 of the Dove," says Captain Sturt, " is realized in this beautiful 

 and delicate little bird ; it is common on the Murray and the 

 Darling, and was met with in various parts of the interior. 

 Two remained with us at the Depot, in latitude 39° 40', 

 longitude 142°, during a great part of the winter, and on one 

 occasion roosted on the tent-ropes near the fire. Its note is 

 exceedingly plaintive." 



The little Turtle-Dove is more frequently observed on the 

 ground than among the trees ; I sometimes met with it in 

 small flocks, but more often in pairs. It runs over the ground 

 with a short bobbing motion of the tail, and while feeding is 

 so remarkably tame as almost to admit of its being taken by 

 the hand, and if forced to take wing it merely flies to the 



