PIGEONS. 
385 
crested The crested bronze - winged dove (Ocyphaps lophotes), repre- 
Bronze-Wing. se nted on the left side of the figure on p. 384, is the only 
representative of the last genus, and is a native of the interior of North 
and East Australia. Its crest is black, the head and under - parts grey, the 
sides of the neck and breast pinkish salmon - colour, the back and rump 
olive-grey, and the upper tail-coverts greyish brown, edged with white. The 
smaller wing-coverts are greyish buff, banded with black, the greater coverts and 
secondaries edged with white, and mostly ornamented with metallic green and 
purple. The primaries are greyish black, the middle tail-feathers brown, and the 
outer pairs brownish black, glossed on their outer webs with green, blue, and 
Nicobar pigeons nat. size). 
purple. Gould says this dove “ frequently assembles in very large flocks; and 
when it visits the lagoons or river-sides for water, during the dry seasons, generally 
selects a single tree, or even a particular branch, on which to congregate before 
descending simultaneously to drink. Its flight is more rapid than that of any 
member of the group to which it belongs ; and impetus being acquired by a few 
quick flaps of the wings, it goes skimming off apparently without any further 
movement of the pinions. Upon alighting on a branch, it elevates its tail and 
throws back its head, so as to bring them nearly together, at the same time erecting 
its crest, and showing itself off to advantage.” 
The beautiful Nicobar pigeon (Calamus nicobarica ) has a wide 
Nicobar Pigeon. ran g e ^ ^habiting not only the islands from which it takes its name, 
but extending through the Mergui and Malay Archipelagos to the Solomon Islands. 
Together with a smaller species of an indigo-blue colour from the Pelew Islands, 
VOL. iv .—25 
