81 
Genus Ocyphaps. 
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 enables 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 oh the trees than the members of the genus Phaps ; its food 
consists of small seeds and berries. 
432. Ocyphaps Lophotes Vol. V. PL 70. 
Genus Petrophassa. 
Generic characters. 
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. PL 71. 
Genus Geopelia. 
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 Australia 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 Vol. V. PL 72. 
435. Geopelia tranquilla, Gould Vol. V. PL 73. 
436. Geopelia placida, Gould. 
Inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Essington, is much smaller 
than G. tranquilla , but in colour and marking is precisely similar 
to that species. 
437* Geopelia cuneata Vol. V. PL 74. 
“ AH that we read or imagine of the softness and innocence of 
the dove,” says Captain Sturt, “ is realized in this beautiful and de- 
licate little bird; it is common on the Murray and the Darling, 
and was met with in various parts of the interior. Two remained 
with us at the Depot in latitude 39° 40', longitude 142°, during a 
great part of the winter, and on one occasion roosted on the tent- 
G 
