274 
COLUMBIDffi. 
PHAPS ELEGANS, Temminck. 
Brush Bronze-wing. 
Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 463, p. 125. 
This bird was at one time found breeding rather freely in the 
scrubs in the neighbourhood of Sydney, the nest is similar to 
that of the preceding species P, chalcoptera. Eggs two in 
number for a sitting, pure white. A set taken at Bondi on the 
4th of August 1863, measure as follows :—length (A) P33 x 0 95 
inch ; (B) 14 x 0 - 95 inch. 
Dimensions of a set taken near Hobart, Tasmania, on the 15th 
of April 1883 :—length (A) P28 x 0-97 inch ; (B) 1-33 x 0-99 inch. 
Like the preceding species this bird has no fixed breeding season 
but nests containing eggs or young ones, are usually found during 
August and the three following months. 
Hah. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Wide Bay District, 
Richmond and Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, 
Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania, West and South-West 
Australia. (Ramsay.) 
PHAPS HISTRIONIC A, Gould. 
Harlequin Bronze-wing. 
Gould, RandbTc. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 464, p. 127. 
“ In some seasons this beautiful pigeon is to be found in countless 
numbers on the vast plains of the interior of Australia j its range 
also extends to Port Darwin, and Derby in North-western 
Australia, specimens having been procured both by Mr. E. J. 
Cairn and the late Mr. T. II. Boyer-Bower during the latter 
part of 1886. In the evening these birds arrive in large flocks 
at the dams and water tanks to drink, but at the slightest 
indication of danger they take flight. This species is terrestrial 
in its habits, and for the purpose of breeding generally resorts to 
the shelter of a cotton bush, forming little or no nest it often lays 
its eggs upon the bare ground. A pair of these birds have bred 
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