1 66 cassell's book of birds. 



to a given point, he may be certain to procure a supply of water. When rain has fallen in abundance, 

 and the rivers and lagoons are filled, the case is materially altered; then the Bronze-wing and other 

 birds are not so easily procured." 



It is supposed that a partial exodus of these birds takes place from time to time, which Gould 

 thinks very probable. After the termination of the breeding season, both young and old resort to the 

 stubble-fields, and from twenty to thirty brace may be daily killed. This species feeds entirely on the 

 ground, upon a variety of leguminous seeds. It breeds in August and the four succeeding months, 

 and often rears two or more broods. The nest is usually placed on the horizontal branch of an apple 

 or gum tree near the ground, especially on those growing in flat meadow-land in the neighbourhood 

 of water. The nest, which is very frail, is made of small twigs, and of rather hollow form. The two 

 eggs are white, an inch and three-eighths in length, and an inch in breadth. 



The QUAIL PIGEONS {Geophaps) differ from the above birds principally in the comparative 

 shortness of their powerful beak, their small, rounded wing, high tarsus, and the bare circle that 

 surrounds the eye. The members of this group inhabit Australia, and breed upon the ground. 



THE PARTRIDGE BRONZE-WING. 



The Partridge Bronze-wing {Geophaps scripta) is light brown on the mantle and breast; the 

 rest of the under side is grey, shading 'into white, except on the yellowish brown belly. The quills 

 and feathers of the wing-covers have light edges, the outer web of many of the larger feathers 

 gleaming with greenish purple ; the throat, upper breast, a broad line from the lower mandible to the 

 eyes, and a spot on the sides of the throat are snow-white, adorned with very peculiar black markings 

 resembling printed letters. The eye is dark brown, the eye-ring blueish grey, the beak black, and the 

 foot deep, rich red. The length is twelve inches ; that of the tail five and a half inches. 



"This Pigeon," says Gould, "has more than ordinary claims to the attention both of the 

 ornithologist and the epicure, since to the first it is of interest as being a typical example of a minor 

 group of the Columbcz, whose habits and economy are very peculiar, and to the second as a most 

 delicate viand for the table. 



" It is to be regretted that a bird possessing such high qualifications as an article of food should 

 be so exclusively a denizen of the plains of the interior of Australia that it is available to few except 

 inland travellers, for it would be of especial interest to the sportsman from its offering a closer 

 resemblance to the Gallinacea than any other Pigeon. I sometimes observed it in pairs, but more 

 frequently in small flocks of from four to six in number, which, when approached, instead of seeking 

 safety by flight, ran off with exceeding rapidity in an opposite direction and crouched down either on 

 the bare plain or among any scanty herbage that appeared to offer the best shelter, where they often 

 lay until all but trodden on." 



When this Pigeon does rise, it flies with extreme rapidity, making a loud burring noise with the 

 wings, and generally spinning off to another part of the plain, or to the horizontal branch of a tree, on 

 which it immediately squats in the same line as the branch, from which it is not easily distinguished 

 or driven off. 



The two eggs are placed on the bare ground without any trace of nest. The nestlings run and 

 fly when only the size of a Quail. The food of this bird principally consists of seeds of grasses and 

 small plants, and in some seasons insects and berries. Water seems quite an essential to its existence ; 

 and many writers inform us that it is abundant on such plains as are intersected by rivers and water- 

 holes. 



Gould met with this bird on the Liverpool Plains, and as he proceeded on the Lower Namoi its 



