THE VICTORIA CROWNED PIGEON. 



127 



ments, or as if apprehensive of unseen dangers. During these manoeuvres the flapping of their many 

 thousand wings causes a reverberation suggestive of distant thunder. When at last settled upon the 

 ground, they industriously search among the fallen leaves for the acorns and the beech-mast, the rear 

 flocks continually rising, passing over the main body, and re-alighting. These changes are so frequent 

 that at times the whole collection appears to be in motion. A large extent of ground is thus cleared 

 in a surprisingly short space of time, and cleared with a completeness that is described as incredible, 

 They are usually satiated by the middle of the day, and ascend to . the trees to rest and digest their 

 food. On these occa- 

 sions the Pigeons a:e 

 destroyed in immense 

 numbers, and their 

 abundance in large ex- 

 tents of the country has 

 been very sensibly re- 

 duced." 



In the fourth divi- 

 sion of the Pigeons the 

 tarsus is about equal to 

 the middle toe, or longer, 

 and is bare at the base. 

 The tail is moderate, 

 often short or rather 

 long, but not pointed; 

 the toes are rather slen- 

 der. Many of these birds 

 frequent the ground, and 

 the colours are more 

 delicate than in the 

 Fruit Pigeons, or in the 

 True Pigeons, which 

 latter have generally an 

 iridescent colour on the 

 sides of the neck. They 

 mostly feed on tin; 

 ground on grain, pulse, 

 and other small seeds, 

 and are not in general 

 gregarious, though large 

 numbers may be seen 

 feeding together. They 

 chiefly frequent open 

 and cultivated country, 



a few preferring highly-wooded or forest districts, and many are very familiar birds, feeding 

 cl.)M> to houses and stables. They nest on low trees or slmibs, constructing the usual slight 

 platform nest, and they breed at all seasons of the year.* Mr. Gould says that the species of 

 PI<p$, which are popularly known as Bronze- wings, are more widely dispersed in Australia than those 

 of any other member of the family, being universally distributed over the country from north to south, 

 and from east to west ; even the parched deserts of the interior are visited by them if a supply of 

 water sufficient for their existence be within reach of their evening flight, which is performed with the 

 most extraordinary rapidity and power. Writing of the common Bronze-wing (Phaps clialcoptera), 

 the same writer observes : " It is a plump, heavy bird, weighing when in good condition fully a 

 pound ; and is constantly eaten by every class of persons resident in Australia. Its amazing powers 



* Jenlon. 



VICTORIA CROWNED PIGEON. 



