443 



Order COLUMBIFORMES. 

 Family COLUMBIDAE. 



Stictopeleia c. cuneata, Latham 

 (Eastern Spotted-shouldered Dove.) 



This is a widely distributed bird, and was found all over 

 the country where waters existed. The plaintive cooing note 

 was often heard while we were travelling down the Cooper. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 22 j 21075 mm. — - 



October 9 ... tf 203 mm. 292 mm. 



Specimens agree with others in my collection, taken in many 

 other parts of the State. 



Ocyphaps l. lophotes, Temminck (Crested Pigeon). 



These fine birds were met with wherever there was 

 permanent water, sometimes in pairs, at other times in 

 parties of a dozen or more. They were breeding during the 

 time we passed through the country. The nest consists of a 

 few sticks carelessly placed in a mulga, 8 or 10 feet from the 

 ground, but I have seen them in a cane bush almost on the 

 ground. The nest invariably contained two eggs, pure white. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 18 <f 346 mm. 50175 mm. 



September 18 O 304 mm. 447"5 mm. 



I see no variation as to colour with birds from other localities. 



Order RALLIFORMES. 

 Family RALLIDAE. 



MlCROTRIBONYX VENTRALIS WHITEI, Gould 



(Black-tailed Native Hen). 



These birds were met with at several places along the 

 Cooper, but not in the numbers one would expect. No signs 

 of mating were seen; they were in fairly large parties. Capt. 

 Sturt mentions in his journal as having met with these birds 

 in great numbers when he traversed that countrv. Four 

 specimens taken measured as follows: — 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



October 8 ... tf 387 mm. 716 mm. 



October 8 ... 9 330 mm. 640 mm. 



October 8 ... 9 349 mm. 640 mm. 



October 8 ... 9 355 mm. 646'5 mm. 



