246 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



of the eastern archipelago. The back and wings are emerald green glossed with 

 gold ; two dusky and two grayish bars cross the .back and rump, and a white bar on 

 shoulder of the wing. Beneath the body is vinaceous red-brown, with ashy under 

 tail-coverts. This beautiful species feeds upon the ground, walks with a rapid gait, 

 and is seen usually alone. Another very beautiful species of this genus is the (7. 

 stephani from Celebes and the Papuan Islands. 



The genus Petrophassa contains a singular species, P. albipennis, an inhabitant 

 of the rugged and desolate portions of the coast of northwest Australia, where it is 

 common among the sandstone cliffs. It is a brown bird with black lores, and the 

 basal half of the primaries pure white. Another genus with a single species is 

 Ocyphaps, O. lophotes, also confined to Australia. It is a bird of much elegance 

 of form, with a long slender black crest flowing from the occiput. Its dress is gray 

 and olive-brown, with shining bronzy-green wing-coverts. Tail of fourteen feathers, 

 the two centre ones brown, remainder brown, glossed with green and tipped with 

 white. It dwells on the plains of the interior, assembles in very large flocks, and flies 

 with a rapidity unequalled by any member of the group to which it belongs. 



South Africa presents us with another genus Tympanistria, having but one 

 species, the T. bicolor. This is a very pretty bird with fuscous-brown back and wings 

 and white under parts. It is confined chiefly to the forest districts, and appears to 

 have certain powers of ventriloquism, throwing its voice to a distance so as to deceive 

 the hunter who may be standing under the very tree upon which the bird is perched. 

 Another African genus is Chalcopdia with three species, the best known of which is 

 probably C. afra. They are pretty little birds, the species just named being of a 

 beautiful vinaceous color on the breast and lower parts, and with -some large brilliant 

 purple and green spots on the wings. It is common on the Okovango River, where it 

 constructs a nest of a few sticks placed in a bush or low tree, and so loosely put to- 

 gether that the two white eggs may be seen through the structure by any one looking 

 up from below. 



ffaplopelia was established for three or four species, two from Africa, and one 

 from St. Thomas and Prince's Island respectively. The African birds H. lavata and 

 H. bronzina are beautiful species with considerable metallic gloss of green and copper 

 upon the plumage. They apparently prefer to keep in forests, feeding on berries, and 

 are not uncommon. The bird from St. Thomas {H. simplex), as its name implies, 

 has not so highly colored a plumage as its relatives. By some authors these birds 

 are included in the genus Peristera. 



We now come to a well-marked Central and South American genus with a few 

 offshoots among the islands of the West Indies, viz., Geotrygon, with a little over a 

 dozen species. They have a very stout form with a short rounded wing, the third 

 quill longest, the others abruptly sinuated on the outer edge ; the first quill sickle- 

 shaped but not attenuated. These birds are from nine to twelve inches in length, of 

 a very attractive and harmonious plumage, and excellent as food. In the island of 

 Jamaica there are two species, known as ' mountain witch,' and * partridge-dove.' They 

 are essentially ground birds, feeding on seeds and occasionally on slugs. They fre- 

 quent wooded parts of the country, and are wary and difficult to approach. In cer- 

 tain districts they are abundant, and the nest is a rude affair of a few dry leaves and 

 twigs gathered together. Two beautiful species of this genus are G. veraguensis and 

 G. lawrencei from Central America. 



Leptoptila is another genus of about a dozen species, whose members have nearly 



