PLATE XI. 
LE rCOS ARCIA PIC ATA. 
WONGA WONG A. Genus: Leucosarcia. 
IN the group of the graniverous (seed-eating) Pigeons, the Wonga Wonga stands in the foremost rank as a 
representative of its family. The generic name, Leucosarcia, was bestowed upon it because of the whiteness 
of its flesh, and the total absence of the usual discolouration observable in nearly all other wild pigeons. In 
size it is far superior to any of its congeners, while as an edible bird of great delicacy, the Wonga is held in such 
high estimation that many bushmen make their living by trapping and despatching it alive to the Sydney 
market. 
In the Burragorang Valley, a wildly picturesque and secluded spot in the old Sutton Forest District, 
some eighty miles south-west from Sydney, the Wonga is found in great numbers, attracted by the Black 
Wattle {Acacia decurrens), of whose seed it is inordinately fond. Another favourite food is the dark red-brown 
fruit of a low growing shrub bearing spiky leaves, which luxuriates among the precipitous cliffs of this region. 
Here nests have been found placed in a wattle branch growing out from a cleft of the precipitous cliff which 
forms the ravine. 
Like most of its order, the Wonga wastes little ingenuity upon its nest, though its architectural ideas 
are more advanced than those of the Bronzewing. It usually selects the branch of a Wattle tree, and, gathering 
a few twigs and bits of grass, puts them loosely together in a shapeless nest, in which two pure white eggs are 
laid — in size, one inch and a-half long and one inch and a- half wide at the greatest breadth. The period of 
incubation lasts from August to November, by which time the young ones are grown to be independent individuals. 
The length of the adult bird is about ten inches and three-quarters. 
Unlike the Fruit Pigeon, which finds its food on the tree-tops within a narrow range of its home, and 
is, therefore, not dependent upon the strength of its wings for subsistence, the Wonga must perforce traverse 
long distances in search of its daily meal. To meet these requirements Nature has furnished it with 
strongly-developed wings and pectoral muscles, well adapted to sustain it on rapid flights over extensive tracts of 
country, when, owing to drought or other caprices of climate, food and water are scarce. When about to fly it 
rises rather slowly from the ground with a noisy flapping of the wings, but, when once fairly on its way it 
flies rapidly, making a peculiar whirring sound. Owing to its wandering disposition, the Wonga is a widely- 
distributed bird, and is found in all the eastern colonies of the Australian continent. It particularly affects 
Rockhingharn Bay, Wide Bay District, Queensland ; Richmond and Clarence River District, New South Wales ; 
and Victoria. 
It is of a shy and retiring disposition, preferring the densely wooded forests and valleys, especially the 
wattle scrubs of the sea-coast districts, to the plains and open hill-country. It is seldom found near the abode 
of man, and when known to frequent his vicinity, its nature is modified from the gregarious to the solitary, as 
it is then only to be met with in twos and threes. It makes a deep soft cooing note when calling to its mate, 
which breaks upon the ear most musically in the silent forests. 
The food of the Wonga consists entirely of seeds ; and to this fact may be traced the delicacy of its 
flesh, which is free from the high flavour noticeable in game birds whose food is less confined to cereals. 
The seed of the indigenous Acacia (Wattle) forms one of its staple articles of food. It may be seen scratching 
the ground beneath the leafy shade of these graceful trees, or diving deep amid the undergrowth that surrounds 
the habitation of the Cabbage-tree Palm {Ptychospenna Cnuninghamii, and Livistona Australis) in search of 
the fallen seeds of that plant — one common alike to the dense fern gullies of the sea coast and the less precipi- 
tous tracts of the inland districts. At sunset the flock betakes itself to the nearest creek or water-hole, 
where but a small quantity is sufficient to allay its thirst. Its presence anywhere may be accepted as a safe 
indication of water not far distant. 
