276 GOGERLEY, Breeding of Top-Knot Pigeon [ T^ p ®“ u 
Early Breeding of the Top-knot Pigeon 
(Lopholaimus antarcticus ) 
By J. F. H. GOGERLEY, R.A.O.U., Wallis Lake, N.S.W. 
Not for many years has there been such abundance of wild 
fruit and berries in the brushes around Wallis Lake as there 
has been during the present year. All the fruit-eating birds and 
Pigeons have gathered to the feast, and Top-knot Pigeons are 
present in thousands. Their numbers prompt one to enquire 
where they come from, and how the species is maintained, in view 
of the fact that they lay one egg only, and are rarely found 
breeding. 
A tree crowded thickly with feeding Pigeons is a wonderful 
and beautiful sight. The large slate-coloured birds clamber on 
top of one another until suddenly they take fright and flash away 
with a sound like a gale of wind. Unfortunately a great deal 
of slaughter of these Pigeons goes on in spite of close seasons 
and the proclamation of sanctuaries. 
The Top-knots had been around “Ellerslie” about a month 
when T was surprised to find that they were breeding. Tin 
was in June, although I had not previously known them to breed 
before October. The first nest, found on June 10th, was built 
in a paper-bark tree, thirty feet from the ground, and over a 
track. We flushed the bird, and found beneath the tree the 
shell of an egg from which a young bird had hatched. The 
nest was found to contain a young bird about one week old. His 
quills were just bursting, and bis head was bald. 
We had not a camera with us, so decided to return the fol¬ 
lowing day, and commence a series of photographs showing the 
various stages of the nestling’s growth. Circumstances were 
against us, however, as for nearly three weeks rain fell almost 
unceasingly. At the end of the third week T found the young 
bird still in the nest, but well grown. On the first fine day we 
undertook to photograph the chick, but he had grown so strong 
that we were afraid he would fly if an attempt were made from 
the nesting tree. After experimenting from another tree about 
twenty feet away, however, we were forced to take the risk, and 
my son ascended carefully with the camera and placed it six 
feet from the nest. While the camera was being focussed the 
young bird moved away to the edge of the nest. He did not 
move further and a picture was obtained. 
The nestling was fully feathered, and his top-knot was just 
appearing. His legs and bill were lead-coloured, and the irides 
brown. He was about a month old, and left the nest a few days 
after the photograph was taken. But for the weather it would 
have been possible to picture the growth of this and several other 
young birds in the vicinity. 
A nest containing an egg was found later at a height of 83 
feet in a brush box tree. This was a very bulky structure, and 
