148 BIRDS OF AT3STRALIA. 



brown, the latter rufous on their inner webs for two-thirds of 

 their length; four centre tail-feathers grey, deepening into 

 black at the extremity and with black shafts ; the remainder 

 greyish black at the base, and pui'e white for the remainder 

 of their length ; irides in some instances bright red, and the 

 naked skin round the eyes light scarlet ; in others the irides 

 and naked skin round the eyes are pale greenish yellow ; bill 

 dark olive brown ; feet reddish flesh-colour in some instances, 

 in others yellowish. 



The female differs in having the back of the head, neck, and 

 upper surface browner, and the spots on the wings larger 

 than the male. 



Genus MACROPYGIA, Swainson. 



A genus the members of which are distributed over India, 

 Java, New Guinea, Ceram, the Moluccas, and Australia. 

 Only one species, 31. phasianella, has yet been characterized 

 from the last-mentioned country. 



Sp. 475. MACROPYGIA PHASIANELLA. 



Large-tailed Pigeon. 

 Columba phasianeJlUf Temm. PI. Col. 100. 



Macropygia phasianella, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v. 

 pi. 75. 



The interior of the dense brushes are the favourite haunts 

 of this bird, but it occasionally resorts to the crowns of the 

 low hills and the open glades of the forest, where it searches 

 for its food on the ground ; on being disturbed it flies to the 

 branches of the nearest tree, spreading out its broad tail at 

 the moment of alighting. From Illawarra to Moreton Bay it 

 is a common and stationary species. It is a fine showy bird 

 in a state of nature, and exhibits itself to great advantage 

 when it rises from the ground to the trees. While travers- 

 ing the brushes I frequently saw this bird busily engaged 



