INTRODUCTION. 
Ixxi 
431. Geophaps plumifera, Gould . . ... . . . . / . . Vol. V. PI. 69. 
"Lat. 17° 30', March 6. I was fortunate enough to kill for the first time Geophaps plumifera, a species 
hitherto only known from a single specimen sent home by Mr. Bynoe of H.M.S. Beagle. The irides are bright 
orange, the naked skin before and surrounding the eyes bright crimson ; the bill dark greenish grey ; the scales of 
the legs and toes greenish grey ; skin between the scales light ashy grey. Its flight and actions on the ground are 
precisely similar to those of the other species of the genus. I only saw the specimen I killed, but afterwards 
learned that one of my companions had seen a flock rise precisely like Geophaps seripta." — Gilbert's Journal. 
"It was on the return of my party from the eastern extremity of Cooper's Creek," says Captain Sturt, " that 
we first saw and procured specimens of this beautiful little bird. Its locality was entirely confined to about thirty 
miles along the banks of the creek in question ; it was generally perched on some rock fully exposed to the sun's 
rays, and evidently taking a pleasure in basking in the tremendous heat. It was very wild and took wing on 
hearing the least noise, but its flight was short and rapid. In the afternoon this little pigeon was seen running in 
the grass on the creek side, and could hardly be distinguished from a quail. It never perched on the trees ; when 
it dropped after rising from the ground, it could seldom be flushed again, but ran with such speed through the 
grass as to elude our search." 
Genus Ocyphaps, Gould. 
Generic characters. 
Head furnished with a lengthened occipital crest ; wings rather short, the third primary gradually narrowed 
to a point ; tail rather long and much rounded ; tarsi as long as the middle toe ; the inner toe shorter than the 
outer. 
A genus consisting of a single species whose natural habitat is the basin of the interior of Australia, over the 
vast expanse of which its long pointed wings enable it to pass at pleasure from one district to another whenever 
a scarcity of food prompts it so to do : although mainly terrestrial in its habits, it is more frequently seen on the 
trees than the members of the genus Phaps ; its food consists of small seeds and berries. 
432. Ocyphaps Lophotes . . Vol. V. PI. 70. 
Genus Petrophassa, Gould. 
Generic <;haracters. 
As in Ocyphaps, but with the wings shorter, more rounded and destitute of the bronzy lustre ; and with a 
more rounded tail. 
So little is known respecting the single species of this Australian genus that I am unable to say more than 
that it inhabits rocky situations near the sea-coast. 
433. Petrophassa albipennis, Gould ........... Vol. V. PI. 71. 
Genus Geopelia, Swains. 
A form of Ground Doves very generally distributed over the Indian Islands and Australia, and of which three 
or four species are peculiar to the latter country ; grassy hills, flats and extensive plains are the situations these 
birds affect, consequently in Austraha they are almost exclusively confined to the interior ; they pass over the 
ground in a quiet and peaceful manner ; and when disturbed fly to some neighbouring tree, descend again almost 
immediately and search about for the minute seeds of annuals and other plants, upon which they principally 
subsist. 
434. Geopelia humeralis . 
435. Geopelia tranquilla, Gould 
436. Geopelia placida, Gould. 
Vol. V. PI. 72. 
Vol. V. PI. 73. 
