198 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



specimens are obtained. On one occasion — November, 1894 — 

 they bred in large numbers on the Hale and Hugh Rivers, in 

 Central Australia, although residents of that neighbourhood for 

 over thirty years had not seen them before, nor have they repeated 

 the visit. Whilst in a state of nature they appear to subsist on 

 very little water. In captivity they drink freely and often. 



7. Swift-flying Turnix, Turnix velox. — Throughout the 

 whole route of the Calvert Exploring Expedition, from Cue to the 

 Fitzroy River, in North-West Australia, but few days passed 

 without our disturbing numbers of these birds. It mattered not 

 what the country was like — dry spinifex flats, gullies clothed with 

 kangaroo grass, or the Flinders and Mitchell grass plains near the 

 river — the Turnix was everywhere. They were just as numerous 

 far from water as near the wells, and although most other birds 

 came to drink the Turnix was not known to do so. 



But the birds which are of most interest to the traveller are 

 those which are valuable either as water guides or for culinary 

 purposes. Foremost of these is the 



8. Crested Bronzewing Pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes. — 

 Wherever water exists in the desert, even in small quantities, 

 these birds are certain to be found. As they resort to their 

 drinking places morning and evening they are comparatively easy 

 to follow. They generally travel in flocks, and fly from tree to 

 tree one after another, the last bird seldom leaving its tree until 

 several of its predecessors are again perched. This processional 

 style of flight is repeated until the water is reached, and after 

 quenching their thirst the Pigeons remain in the neighbourhood for 

 some hours. As they assemble in a compact flock on the margin 

 of the well, preening their feathers, many birds may be killed at a 

 single shot, or they can be snared with horsehair and string. On 

 several occasions members of the Calvert Expedition killed as 

 many as 30 pigeons in a few shots. Their bodies are very 

 plump and of excellent flavour (especially after a few weeks on 

 tinned meat). Through watching and following the Crested 

 Pigeons Mr. Wells found water on two or three occasions when it 

 was sadly wanted. 



9. Bronzewing Pigeon, Phaps chalcoptera. — Although this 

 pigeon is found in almost every part of the continent, it is most 

 numerous in the sandy wastes of the tropics, where it finds an 

 abundance of seeds of various kinds, and enjoys immunity from 

 many of those enemies which threaten its existence in more 

 favoured localities. Their powerful wings carry them so far in 

 such a short space of time that it is not unusual for them to travel 

 thirty or forty miles to water and afterwards return to their 

 feeding grounds. They generally time their journey so as to 

 arrive at the water between sunset and dark, alighting on the 

 ground with a heavy thump, and, after awaiting the arrival of 



