194 BRONZE-WINGED PIGEONS [CHAP. vi. 



difference in the markings of their plumage, but the 

 female is somewhat inferior to the male in size."* 



The sentence in italics is the one which has caused 

 the introduction of the whole passage here. The 

 Wonga-wonga, there is every reason to believe, has 

 been in this country alive : any one who may chance to 

 possess it should be told what hopes are entertained of 

 its capabilities ; but, at present, no account of its being 

 naturalized or domesticated has reached me. 



THE BRONZE -WINGED PIGEONS. The Golumbida, or 

 entire family of Pigeons, containing a great number of 

 known, and probably not a few still undescribed species, 

 have been divided into several genera by modern natu- 

 ralists. One of these, Columba, includes our common 

 Dovehouse and Domestic Pigeons ; another, Peristera of 

 Swairison, Phaps of Gould, takes in the subjects at 

 present under consideration. The Bronze-wings follow 

 next to the Leucosarcia in interest; which, however, 

 arises from totally different considerations. No hope of 

 domestication can be admitted here, even if it were 

 allowable for others. According to Mr. Gould's opinion, 

 with which he has kindly favoured me, " Of all the 

 Australian Pigeons, the Bronze-wings are the species 

 most likely to become naturalized in this country. Not 

 that I think this can ever be accomplished ; the 

 climate being so different, and the habits of the birds 

 totally unadapted for a country so highly cultivated as 

 England. They love to dwell on the most sterile plains, 

 where they feed almost exclusively on grass-seeds *, and 



* See vol. v. pi. 63. 



t The food of the genus Phaps is thus described in Dr. Leichhardt's 

 Expedition to Port Essington : " The Bronze-winged Pigeon lived 

 here on the red fruit of Rhagodia, and the black berries of a species 



