22 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. III. 



very large pigeons, and the white birds resembling the 

 Guinea-fowl, which were found at Norfolk Island, were seen 

 here also in great numbers. The bill of this bird is red, and 

 very strong, thick and sharp-pointed." 



On p. 255 in Lieutenant Watts' narrative a more detailed 

 account of the bird-life is given, but the lines I wish to 

 emphasize at this time read : " Very large pigeons were 

 also met with in great plenty : likewise beautiful parrots 

 and parroquets." 



Page 250 records how the Scarborough transport, also 

 in May, 1788, called for turtle at Lord Howe Island and found 

 none, but " they brought off a quantity of fine birds, sufficient 

 to serve the ship's crew three days ; many of them were 

 very fat, somewhat resembling a Guinea-hen, and proved 

 excellent food." 



On p. 273 the White Gallinule is described from " Lord 

 Howe's Island, Norfolk Island and other places " and a 

 plate given, but with regard to the "very large pigeons" I 

 find "no further account of them." 



The next book to be published was the Journal of a 

 Voyage to New South W r ales, by John White, which appeared 

 early in 1790. White was very interested in Natural History, 

 and writing of the discovery of Lord Howe Island stated : 

 " They also found on it, in great plenty, a kind of fowl. . . . 

 These not being birds of flight, nor in the least wild, the sailors, 

 availing themselves of their gentleness and inability to take 

 wing from their pursuits, easily struck them down with 

 sticks. There were also many birds of the Dove kind, as 

 tame as the former, and caught with equal facility. Some 

 of them were brought alive to this place." 



Many birds are figured, among them being the White 

 Fulica described on p. 238 and named Fulica alba, but nothing 

 more is given in connection with the Pigeon. 



Search through other narratives and accounts has revealed 

 no more mention of this Pigeon and it has passed entirely 

 into obscurity. As a matter of fact I had doubted its existence, 

 as the accounts quoted above are all second-hand, and Pigeons 



