136 



if I can be of any further use in that way to any other fancier, I shall feel happy to 

 impart any further information I may possess. 



400. Mr. J. M. Eaton has published an excellent work on the Almond Tumbler, 

 which is worthy the attention of all amateurs, thanks are also due to him for rescuing 

 Mr. Moobe's work from oblivion. Mr. E. has not ceased here, but has lately published 

 a diagram of how a Pigeonary should be fitted up, of which no doubt many brother 

 fanciers will avail themselves. 



H. P. BRENT. 



The two following accounts of the Bronze-winged Dove, and the Great Crowned 

 Pigeon, are partly extracted from the learned and excellent work, the Naturalist's 

 Library (Ornitholgy), Vol. 5 ; Gallinaceous Birds, Part 3 — Pigeons. — By Pkideaux 

 Selby, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., M.W.S., &c.^ &c.:— 



THE AUSTEALIAN BRONZE-WING. 



Although this Pigeon is a distinct species from our fancy birds, yet, as it frequently 

 appears at our shows, a description of it will not be out of place: — 



" The Bronze-winged Dove is a native of Australia, and many of the islands of the 

 Pacific. It afiects sandy and arid situations, and is usually seen upon the ground, or 

 sometimes perched upon the low branches of the shrubs that grow in such situations. 

 It breeds in the holes or decayed stumps of trees near the ground, and not unfrequently 

 upon the surface of the earth itself, making a very inartificial nest, and laying two 

 white eggs. It is usually seen in pairs, and the place of its retreat is easily discovered 

 by its loud and sonorous cooings, which, at a distance, are said to resemble the lowings 

 of a cow. Its chief food consists of a berry resembling a cherry, the stones of which 

 are generally found in its stomach, during its abode around Sidney, which appears to 

 be there restricted to the breeding season, as it is only met with in that district from 

 the month of September till February. 



In size it equals our Wood Pigeon, measuring about fifteen inches in extreme length. 

 The bill, from the corners of the mouth, is nearly one inch, of a black colour, reddish 

 towards the base. The forehead, the sinciput, the streak beneath the eyes, and the 

 throat are white. The crown hair-brown with a reddish tinge, surrounded with a broad 

 fillet dusky cochineal red. Cheeks and sides of neck bluish-gray. Lower part of the 

 fore-neck and breast purplish gi-ay. Abdomen and vent gray, slightly tinged with pale 

 lavender-purple. Back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail covert, hair-brown, with a 

 greenish tint in some lights, each feather margined paler. Lesser and greater wing- 

 coverts bluish-gray, the exterior webs each with a large ovate metallic spot, exhibiting 

 various tints, according to the light in which it is viewed. Quills hair-brown on the 

 upper surface ; the inner surface of the inner webs deeply margined with pale reddish- 

 orange, which is also the colour of the axillary feathers and under wing-coverts. Tail 

 bluish-gray, with a broad black fascia about an inch from the top, slightly rounded. 

 Legs red with two rows of scales in front, the sides reticulated. 



THE GREAT CROWNED PIGEON. 

 (Columha Co7'onata.J 



This is a distinct species from any of our domestic sorts, but as specimens are to be 

 Been at the Zoological Gardens, we insert the following descripiion : — 



** The Crowned Goura is a native of the many islands of the great Indian Archipe- 

 lago, being by no means rare in Java and Bauda. In New Guinea it is abundant, as 

 well as in most of the Molucca Islands. It inhabits the forests, and feeds upon berries, 

 seeds, grain, &c. Its nest is built upon a tree, and, like the majority of the Columbidae, 

 it lays but two eggs each hatching. The voice of the male is a hoarse murmuring or 

 cooing, accompanied by a noise, seemingl}' produced by the compression or forcible 

 ejection of the air contained within the thorax, something similar to that so frequently 

 heard from the turkey, when, strutting with expanded tail, he pays his court to the 

 female. 



By the Dutch it is frequently brought to Europe from their East Indian possessions. 



