The aidifloation of this Pigeon is oonduoted on the simples! principles. The eggs— two in number — 
:m . \ :iU \ on the bare ground, and the ohioks, like the young ol' most gallinaceous birds, are independent of 
maternal r;in . almost bom the moment they emerge from the shell. They both run and fly strongly at a very 
early age. 
Th e coloring Of both male and female is in all respects alike; the forehead, back, wings and breast 
;uv ,,t' tin- same dull tint of WW limber in the high lights, and burnt umber in the shadows ; the irides, cheeks, 
ear butts, neck and throat are white, mottled with fawn on the outer edges, outlined with dark burnt umber; 
the abdomen, white, merging into ;l warm grey on the \ent ; the bill, legs and feet are light brown. 
Size, approximately, from tip to tip, eleven inches and a-half. 
GE< >PHAPS SM I I I I I I (Jard and Selby). 
SMITH'S PARTRIDGE B RO XZEWING. Genus : Geophaps. 
fW\B IS mwll Bpeoies of the family Geophaps closely resembles its nearest congener the Partridge Bronzewing in 
some few part iculars, though in its Might, voice, mode of nidilication, the character of its newly-hatched 
young, and its adherence to eireumseribed localities, it dilTers from other members of the genus. 
Popularly known as tin- Partridge, this bird is usually to be found in well-watered grassy flats, or 
Mnwnp freshly-burnt bush, and nearly always in small families. Its food is identical with that of the Partridge 
Bromewing, and, like the latter, it is almost entirely terrestrial in its habits, only taking refuge in a tree if 
BU ddenly alarmed. Like the Gro/i/i<t/>s Scripta, its (light is accompanied by a loud "burring" sound, and the 
note of it> 000 very much resembles that of the Quail ; but it is by no means prodigal of sound, so that sharp 
observation is required to detect its whereabouts, and when conscious of being discovered it will prefer to 
remain stationary, crouching to the ground till almost trodden upon rather than try to effect an escape, this 
being the highest form of subterfuge to evade danger its simple mind can grasp. Its habitat extends from the 
Gulf of Carpentaria to Port Darwin. 
The breeding season usually begins in August, and lasts till the end of January, during which 
period two broods arc hatched. The first generally arrives at maturity in November, and the second by the 
end of January or the early part of February; and, as the process of nidilication is carried on in the interior, 
the ooast districts are entirely forsaken by this Pigeon for fully five months of the year. The nest is not of a 
oomplea Qature, as it is effected by merely smoothing down part of a clump of grass and forming a slight 
hollow, in which are deposited two greenish-white eggs one inch and three lines long, and ten lines and a-half 
wide. The chick is covered w ith down like a young Quail. 
In appearance the Partridge is less graceful than many of the Pigeon family, its contour being 
somewhat short and squat. Size, about seven inches and three-quarters long. 
The general colouring of its plumage nearly resembles the Geophaps Scripta, though its peculiarities 
strike the eye at once. The forehead, shoulders, and back are raw umber in the lights, and burnt umber in the 
>hadows; cheeks, warm mottled grey; irides, light red ; throat, pure white ; breast and under part of the body, 
deep brown, merging into a spotted fawn on the vent ; secondary and tertiary wing feathers, metallic bronze; 
bill, feet and legs, brownish grey. 
