384 



PIGEONS AND SAND-GROUSE. 



being on the cheek, while a third passes above the eye, the rest of the under-parts 

 being grey, shading into fawn colour, the quills brown edged with pale rufous, and 

 the tail reddish browri, with the outer feathers tipped with black. This bird inhabits 

 the plains, being most abundant in the neighbourhood of water, and is sometimes 

 observed in pairs, but more frequently in small flocks of from four to six. When 

 approached, instead of taking flight, it runs ofl' rapidly in an opposite direction, 

 and crouching down, either on the bare plains or among the scant}' herbage, remains 

 till all but trodden on. When it rises, its flight is rapid, and accompanied by a 

 loud whirring noise of the wings. No nest is made, the two eggs being deposited 

 on the bare ground, and the young are able to run when no larger than quails. 



CRESTED AND COMMON BBONZE-WINGED DOVES (J Hat. size). 



Plumed The last two genera of the bronze-winged doves are distinguished 



Bronze-Wing, j^y having the head crested, while they differ from one another in the 

 shape of the tail-feathers, which are short and nearly even in Lophoj)liap8, and in 

 Ocyphaps long, the middle pair being longer than the outer. Of the former, three ^ 

 Australian species are known, all with the general colour cinnamon, the innermost 

 secondaries with metallic bronze-purple spots, the cheeks and throat white, the throat 

 having a black band down the middle, commencing on the chin and joining the gor- 

 get, which is similarly coloured, the breast having a grey band across it. Writing 

 of the plumed bronze-winged dove (L. plumifera), of North-Western Australia, Sturt 

 says it was generally seen perched on some rock, basking with pleasure in the heat 

 of the sun, and was exceedingly wild, taking flight at the slightest noise. 



