588 THE BEONZEWING PIGEON. 



yellowish white, and the quill-feathers of the wing are edged with a rusty hue. The tail, 

 too, is without the white that distinguishes the adult bird. The total length of this species 

 is rather more than eleven inches. 



The little Crested Pigeon, although not so conspicuous as some of its relations, is 

 one of the most elegant in form and pleasing in colour among this tribe. 



• It is a native of central Australia, and, according to Mr. Gould, is fond of haunting 

 the marshy ground by the side of rivers and lagoons, and there assembling in large flocks. 

 The gregarious propensities of this bird are indulged to an extent that seems almost 

 ridiculous, for a large flock of Crested Pigeons will fly to the same tree, sit closely packed 

 upon the same branch, and at the same moment descend in a mass to drink, returning in 

 a similar manner to their perch. The flight of this bird is strong, and rather curiously 

 managed. When it starts from the tree on which it is sitting, it gives a few quick strokes 

 with its wings, and then darts off on steady pinion with an arrowy flight. When it 

 settles, it flings up its head, erects its crest, and jerks its tail over its back, so that the 

 crest and tail nearly touch each other. Its nest is, like that of most pigeons, made of 

 little twigs, and placed on the low forking branch of some convenient tree. While sitting 

 on the nest, or perching quietly on the bough, the crest lies almost upon the back, and 

 from below is hardly distinguishable from the rest of the plumage. 



The head, face, and most of the under portions are pearl grey, the long slender crest 

 being jetty black, and the sides of the neok tinged slightly with pink. The back of the 

 neck, the back, flanks, and both tail-coverts are light brown ; the feathers at the insertion 

 of the wing are buff, crossed with black nearer their tips, and the great coverts are 

 shining bronze green edged with white. The primary feathers of the wing are brown, 

 some partially edged with brownish white, and the rest with pure white. The secondaries 

 are brown in their inner webs, and their outer webs are bronzy purple at the base, tipped 

 with brown, and edged with white. The two central feathers of the tail are brown, the 

 rest are blackish brown, with a green gloss on their outer webs and tipped with white. 

 The bill is oHv^e black, deepening at the tip, the feet are pink, and the eye orange set in a 

 pink orbit. 



The Beonzewing Pigeon is also an Australian bird, and with the exception of the 

 Wonga-Wonga Pigeon, hereafter to be described, is the most celebrated for the delicacy of 

 its flesh. 



It is a plump, and readily fattening bird, weighing about a pound when in good 

 condition. The breast is particularly large, as may be supposed from the great force of 

 its wings, and when the bird is fat, is the most esteemed portion. To the Australian 

 traveller the Bronzewing is invaluable, as it is a great water drinker, and its flight will 

 direct the thirsty w^anderer to the stream or spring. Mr. Gould, who has had long 

 experience of this as well as of many other birds, gives the following interesting account 

 of its habits : — 



" Its amazing powers of flight enable it to pass in an incredibly short space of time 

 over a great expanse of country, and just before sunset it may be observed swiftly 

 winging its way over the plains or down the gullies to its drinking place. 



During the long drought of 1839~40, when I was encamped at the northern 

 extremity of the Brezi range, I had daily opportunities of observing the arrival of this 

 bird to drink ; the only water for miles, as I was assiu'ed by the natives, being that in the 

 immediate vicinity of my tent, and that was merely the scanty supply left in a few 

 natural basins in the rocks, which had been filled by the rains of many months before. 

 This peculiar situation afforded me an excellent opportunity for observuig not only the 

 Bronzewing, but many other birds inhabiting the neighbourhood. Few, if any of the 

 true insectivorous or fissirostrial birds came to the water holes, but on the other hand, 

 those species that live upon grain and seeds, particularly the parrots and honey-eaters 

 {Triclwglossi and Meliphagi), were continually rushing down to the edges of the pools, 

 utterly regardless of my presence, their thirst for water quite overcoming their sense of 

 danger ; seldom, if ever, however, did the Bronzewing make its appearance during the 



