292 Mr. D. Seth-Smith,


THE PARTRIDGE PIGEONS OF AUSTRALIA.

By D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


The two species of Pigeons forming the genus Geophaps

are known to the Australian colonists as "Squatter Pigeons" or

"Partridges" from their terrestrial habits. In this respect they

closely resemble Lophophaps, the Plumed Pigeons, which are also

very Partridge-like in their habits of running swiftly over the

ground and rising like gallinaceous birds. It is convenient how-

ever to confine the term " Partridge Pigeon " to the two species

of Geophaps, the others being known as "Plumed Pigeons" or

" Plumed Doves" (cf. Avic. Mag. Vol. V. p. 51). The Partridge

Pigeons or Partridge Bronzewings, are fine plump birds, about

the size of English Partridges. They nest and roost on the

ground, rarely perching on trees, though they sometimes fly up

on to stout horizontal branches. Both species possess a low

crooning coo.


The Partridge Brouzewiug Pigeon, Geophaps scripta (see

plate) is said to inhabit North-Western and South-Eastern

Australia. It is quite one of the most handsome of Australian

Bronzewings. The prevailing colour is greyish-brown, the wing-

coverts being edged with a much lighter baud, the head

conspicuously marked with black and white, the flanks white,

and a metallic green speculum on the wings. The sexes are

alike in plumage. The male of this species displays in the

same way as others of the Australian " bronze-wing " group,

namely hy bowing and throwing up the wings and tail.


These Pigeons seem to be perfectly hardy, three speci-

mens in my aviary having endured the cold of last winter with

apparently no discomfort. They live on good terms with other

birds except other nearly allied Pigeons such as G. sviithi or

Lophophaps. I have not been successful in breeding G. scripta,

but fertile eggs, which were hatched under Barbary Doves, were

obtained from a pair kept in the Zoological Gardens in 1891,

but apparently no young were reared to maturity.


Smith's Partridge Brouzewiug, Geophaps sviithi, the "Red-

eyed Squatter Pigeon" of the colonists, inhabits North-Western

Australia. It is about the same size as G. scripta, the prevailing



