BIRDS OF THE BRUSHES AND BIG SCRUBS 
21 
districts. It is generally observed feeding in fruit and berry-bearing 
trees, often in the company of the Red-crowned or the Purple-crowned 
Pigeons. It has an extraordinary call, really startling when first heard, 
the deep bubbling notes resembling “Wallock-a-woo,” or the well-known 
gobble of a domestic turkey. Food: native fruits, berries, and seeds. 
Nest. —A scanty platform of sticks laid crosswise in the horizontal 
branches of a scrub tree, at heights up to 30 feet from the ground. Usually 
the egg can be seen from beneath the nest. 
Egg. —Pure white. Breeding-season: October to February. 
14. White-headed Pigeon Columba norfolciensis Latham 
Col-um-ba —L., columba, dove: norfolciensis —from Norfolk Island 
(named in error as it does not occur there). 
Distribution .—Eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, to 
as far south as the Port Hacking district. 
Notes. —Also called Baldy. Usually in pairs or small flocks, frequent¬ 
ing chiefly the coastal scrubs and brushes. It is nomadic, its movements 
being regulated by the supply of food. It is often observed feeding on 
native fruits and berries, the seeds of bangalow and cabbage-tree palms, 
and the berries of the ink-weed. Frequently it is flushed from the ground. 
Its call-note is a loud “Coo-coo-cook,” uttered continuously. 
Nest .—A scanty platform of sticks, laid crosswise in the horizontal 
branches of a scrub tree or placed in a tangle of vines, usually at heights 
up to 20 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. —One, rarely two, dull white. Breeding-season: October to 
January or February. 
15. Brown Pigeon Macropygia phasianella Temminck 
Mac-ro-pyg-i-a (g = j)—Gk, macros, long; Gk, pyge, rump, tail: pha-si- 
a-nel'-la —L., phasianella , little pheasant. 
Distribution. —Northern Territory, Queensland, to southern New 
South Wales; also occurs from the Philippine Islands to New Guinea. 
Notes. —Also called Large-tailed Pigeon, Pheasant Pigeon, and 
Brownie. Usually in pairs or small flocks, frequenting the big scrubs and 
brushes of the coastal districts. It prefers the more open parts of the 
scrubs, bush-tracks, and clearings, where it spends much of its time on 
the ground feeding upon fallen seeds and berries. When flushed, it 
usually settles again on a nearby branch. Food: berries of the ink-weed, 
wild raspberry, and Cape gooseberry. 
Nest. —A scanty platform of sticks, laid crosswise in a tangle of 
vines or on the horizontal branches of a scrub tree, up to 10 feet from the 
ground. 
Eggs. —One, rarely two, dull white or faint creamy-white. Breeding- 
season: October to December (New South Wales); November, January, 
February, June, and July (north-eastern Queensland). 
