27 



red crest, was also seen on the southern slope of the dividing range 

 south of lat. 18° S., and extending to the margin of the desert in 

 lat. 20° S. It is common in the northern districts of West Australia, 

 north of the Murcbison. I have been hitherto most unfortunate in 

 my attempts to get a Black Cockatoo. Several, however, have been 

 shot and their tail-feathers, &c. brought in. I found Aprosmictus 

 erythropterus for the first time in January ; on dissection, I found 

 the os furcatorium very small, and buried in the substance of the pec- 

 torals. 



I have not found a single Platycercus or Euphema, and only two 

 Honey Parrots, Trichoglossus versicolor and T. rubritorquis ; Nym- 

 phicus Novce-Hollandice appeared suddenly in the beginning of 

 April, and was followed in about a fortnight by Melopsittacus undu- 

 latus ; both became very numerous, feeding about the burnt patches 

 of ground ; they are now (June) becoming scarce. 



Pigeons are not very numerous. I found Ptilonopus Swainsoni 

 at Quail Island on the coast near Port Paterson, and the fine Car- 

 pophaga leucomela at Point Pearce, near a swamp at which we were 

 encamped in October ; I was unable to preserve it, and have not seen 

 it again. 



Phaps histrionica, or a pigeon very similar to it, has been found 

 lately in May, and another Bronze-wing smaller, and of a uniform 

 greyish brown with white tip to the tail, red cere, and silver-grey 

 iris, has been common during our stay. I have been disappointed 

 in not getting Geophaps plumifera. It was often seen on the route 

 from Point Pearce, and was very numerous, with another and larger- 

 crested Pigeon at the second depot, established on a branch of the 

 Upper Victoria in lat. 1 7° 3' S. 



The Petrophassa albipennis is common among the sandstone cliffs 

 of the ranges. Of two Geopelice, one is speckled, and has a silver- 

 grey iris ; the other has a beautiful lavender-coloured breast, and 

 pink iris, with broad bright red orbits. Both are elegant, timid 

 birds, and their liquid voices can be heard during the heat of the 

 day, when all else is still. Neither of these Pigeons has the peculiar 

 vocal powers noticed in Geop. tranquilla by Captain Sturt. The 

 speckled one makes a very slight flattish nest of sticks on the hori- 

 zontal fork of a branch, in which it deposits two white eggs. 



One Megapodius was shot at Point Pearce, where in the hurry 

 and confusion I could not preserve it ; it was of compact form, of a 

 uniform olive-brown plumage, with a stout beak, red iris, and strong 

 tarsi and toes, the hinder especially. No mounds were seen during 

 our short stay there. 



A small Quail is common among the grass, but I have not yet 

 obtained it. 



Both Dromaius and Otis are of the same size, and in every way 

 similar to those of the south ; we have nowhere confirmed the ob- 

 servations of Leichardt and his black fellow as to their smaller size. 

 Indeed Mr. Gregory believes, and I think most justly, that the Emu 

 mav cross the entire continent from east to west, or north to south, 



