Quail-Doves 437 



With a single exception the remaining genera of the group are confined to 

 the Old World. Of these Phlogosnas includes about thirty forms, some of which, 

 however, are of doubtful authenticity; it is distinguished from the last mainly 

 in possessing a tail of fourteen feathers. The species are separated into two 

 well-marked groups, in the first of which there is a patch of feathers with long 

 and stiff barbs on the middle line of the crop region ; the second group is without 

 this feature. As characteristic of the first we may select the so-called Blood- 

 breasted Dove (P. luzonica), a handsome bird of the Philippines, in which the 

 forehead and crown are delicate gray, the top of the head, upper parts and sides 

 of the breast dark gray, the feathers edged with metallic purple, while the cheeks, 

 throat, and breast are white, the latter relieved by a large patch of blood-red 

 in the middle. The other species of the genus are spread over the Malay Archi- 

 pelago and Polynesia. The only Australian representative of the group is the 

 Wonga-Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia picata), a large bird nearly fifteen inches 

 long, the sole member of its genus. It may be distinguished from the other 

 members of the order in this region by its dappled gray plumage set off by 

 pink feet and bill and dark brown eyes. It inclines to be stationary in its 

 habits and frequents the eastern forests and scrub mainly from North Queens- 

 land to Victoria. "It loves to dwell in the everlasting shades of the scrub," 

 says Campbell, "and seems always to be on the ground feeding upon fallen 

 fruits and berries. Along some lonely and unfrequented track they may be 

 flushed with loud flapping noise of wings, and they usually afford a good shot 

 by flying along the track for a short distance before diverging into the scrub. 

 Their loud call notes are readily distinguished from all other Pigeons', being 

 a rapid, continuous, high-pitched ' hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo,' which may be heard half 

 a mile off." Their flesh is very white and delicate and is much esteemed for 

 food, with the consequent result that so many have been killed for this purpose 

 that they are becoming rare. The nest is an exceedingly frail structure of sticks 

 and twigs placed in a tree, usually between ten and twenty feet from the ground, 

 and the eggs, always two in number, are glossy, pure white. 



New Guinea is the home of two genera, one of which, Entry gon, is distinguished 

 by having the tarsus twice the length of the middle toe, and the other Otidi- 

 phaps mainly by possessing a tail of twenty feathers. As but little is known 

 of their habits, we may pass to the final genus (Starn&nas), which includes only 

 the Blue-headed Quail-Dove (S. cyanocephala) of Cuba and the Florida Keys. 

 Structurally it is distinguished from the other members of this group by having 

 the front of the tarsus covered with small hexagonal scales, while the general 

 plumage is plain olive-brown above and dull rusty beneath, with the top of the 

 head dull cobalt-blue, bordered with black below; there is a broad white stripe 

 from the chin to the back of the head, and the throat and breast are black, 

 bordered below by a pure white line. Its length is some eleven or twelve inches. 

 This bird is rather an accidental visitor to the Florida Keys and has not been 

 known to nest there for many years. It is, however, not uncommon in certain 

 parts of Cuba, where it is found in the extensive forests, and there, according 

 to Dr. Gundlach, it may be seen moving slowly, with neck contracted and tail 



