86 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
PLATE XIII 
GROUND-FEEDING PIGEONS AND DOVES 
1. Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida Gould 
Ge-o-pel-i-a —Gk, ge, earth; Gk, pelia (peleia ), dove: pla-cid-a —L., 
placidus, quiet. 
Distribution. —Australia (except the south-western portion). 
Notes. —Also called Ground-dove and Doo-doo. Usually in pairs or 
small flocks, frequenting open forest country; it is frequently seen on the 
sides of roads and near homesteads. Call-note, a melodious cooin^— 
“Doo-del-oo.” Food: seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants, procured 
on the ground. 
Nest. —A frail platform of thin twigs, laid crosswise or interlaced 
together. Usually placed on a horizontal forked branch of a tree at 
heights up to 20 feet or more from the ground. 
Eggs .—Usually two, pure white. Breeding-season: August to Tanu- 
ary; throughout the year if conditions suitable. 
2. Diamond-dove Geopelia cuneata Latham 
cun-e-a -ta —L., cuneatus , wedge-shaped. 
Distribution.-— Australia (except the coastal districts of south¬ 
eastern Australia). 
Notes. Also called Little Dove, Turtle-dove, and Red-eved Dove. 
Sfnrf m - pairs ° r , flocks ’ chiefl y frequenting country in the neighbour¬ 
hood of avers and permanent water. It has a rather mournful call' 
this species is fearless in disposition. Food: seeds of grasses and herb¬ 
aceous plants, procured on the ground. k 
grass^^ piacedMn st ™ cture oi th » n twigs, portions of climbing plants, 
ITS, topKl; fcrk o£ a 1 ° w b “ sh °r oft™ i" a <&d lush 
Eggs* Usually two, pure white. Breeding-season * Seotemher to 
western C AustraUa)? ry <N ' W S °" th > 4 "1”* 
3. Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis Temminck 
hu-mer-a -Its- —L., humeralis, shouldered 
- so called Barred-shouldered Dove and Mangrove-dove. 
