CROWNED PIGEONS 



2153 



from the island in flocks out to sea, doubtless to other islands of the group to 



feed. When well up in the air, the flight is swift and powerful, and somewhat 



like that of sand grouse. Having wandered some distance away from the rest of 



his party, and reaching a part of the jungle where the birds had not been disturbed, 



he was surrounded by a flock of at least thirty old and young pigeons. Their 



gait was pigeon-like, and while digging among the dead leaves in search of food 



with their bills they were very silent, their only note being a hoarse croak. He 



always met with them 



on the ground, and, 



when disturbed, they 



invariably perched on 



the thicker branches 



along which they were 



often seen to walk. 



The Nicobar pigeon 



builds a nest of sticks, 



in which the single egg 



is laid. 



CROWNED PIGEONS 



Family 



The members of 

 this family are the 

 largest existing repre- 

 sentatives of the order, 

 and are characterized 

 by the erect fan-shaped 

 crest which adorns the 

 head as well as by 

 their large size, while 

 they are further distin- 

 guished by having the 

 metatarsus covered all 

 over with small six- 

 sided scales. Exclu- 

 sively Australasian in 



their distribution, all the six known species inhabiting the Papuan islands have 

 the general color bluish slate; but the Victorian crowned pigeon (Goura -victoria} 

 differs from its allies in having the tips of the crest feathers spatulate or club 

 shaped. Very little has been recorded concerning the habits of these splendid birds, 

 but they appear to spend much of their time on the ground in search of food, and 

 being remarkably stupid may be easily approached within gunshot. The species 



* - V:>iis23S 

 > 



AI.BERTIS' CROWNED PIGEON. 

 (From D'Albertis' New Guinea.) 



