80 
astonishing indeed that so small a quantity as a bare mouthful 
should be sufficient to quench its thirst in the burning deserts it 
inhabits. It left us in the beginning of May, and I think migrated 
to the N.E., for the further we went to the westward the fewer did 
we see of it.” 
Mr. Gilbert observed this species in vast flocks on the plains in 
latitude 19° S. 
Genus Geopiiaps. 
Generic characters. 
Bill very short and robust ; eyes surrounded with a bare skin ; 
wings very short and rounded ; tertiaries long, and broad at their 
ends ; tarsi moderately long ; toes shorter than the tarsus, the inner 
toe rather the longest. 
The members of this genus are peculiar to Australia ; are more 
terrestrial in their habits than any other form of pigeons inhabiting 
that country; incubate on the ground; squat like the partridges 
when their haunts are intruded upon ; inhabit the plains and open 
downs ; have white pectoral muscles ; are excellent food for man ; 
run with great rapidity ; fly swiftly for short distances ; and when 
disturbed either perch on the larger branches, on which they squat 
lengthwise, or descend to the ground and run off after the manner 
of the true Gallinacece. 
429. Geophaps scripta Vol. V. PI. 67- 
430. Geophaps Smithii Vol. V. PI. 68. 
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 scales light ashy grey. 
Its flight and actions on the ground are precisely similar to those of 
the other species of the genus. 1 only saw the specimen I killed, 
but afterwards learnt that one of my companions had seen a flock 
rise precisely like Geophaps scripta .” — 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 pro- 
cured specimens of this beautiful little bird. Its locality was en- 
tirely 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.” 
