MATHEWS— Birds of the Cairns District, Queensland. 17 



12. Lamprotreron superba. Purple-crowned Pigeon. 



Plentiful, Jbut difficult to get, for while they are all round 

 one the thickness of the leaves prevents one from seeing them. 

 A nest of Macropygia was found and the bird shot off it. A 

 few days afterwards this beautiful little Pigeon had taken pos- 

 session of the old nest and laid one egg. 



13. Myristicivora bicolor spilorrhoa. Nutmeg-Pigeon. 



No. 144 — Female. — Gordan's Camp, Cairns, October 13, 

 1884. 



Length 15.75 inches. Bill yellowish white at the tip, be- 

 coming horn-blue at the base; feet of the latter colour, but 

 more vivid. 



Very numerous at certain seasons, when their favourite 

 trees are white with them. The young are very, good eating. 



15. Macropygia phasianella robinsoni. Northern Pheasant- 

 Pigeon. t 

 A common and stupid bird. Fourteen birds were shot 

 out of a flock of eighteen, without their flying more than fifty 

 yards between their two favourite trees. One, shot on June 

 9, 1884, measures 15.75 inches. In June they were in bad 

 plumage, but very fat. They looked splendid as they flew 

 through the dense scrub. The specimen saved had no secon- 

 daries and could hardly fly. On the 19th of December a nest 

 with one egg was found, and a few days later the young one 

 was hatched. At two days old it was covered with down of 

 a tan-colour. 



15. Chrysauchena humeralis humeralis. Eastern Barred- 



shouldered Dove. 

 One was killed on June 15, 1884, at Cairns. 



16. Geopelia placida placida. Northern Ground-Dove. 

 No. 145 — Male.— Cairns, June 2, 1884. 



Length 8.5 inches. Numerous and always very tame. 

 Sometimes they will enter the tent for food. 



28. Porphyrio melanotus NEOMELANOTus. Northern Bald 

 Coot. 



No. 159— Female.— Scrubby Creek, January 17, 1885. 

 Length 18.75 inches. Irides brownish red; legs and feet 

 pink, except the joints and under parts of the toes, which are 



