The PARTRIDGE BRONZE-WING (_Geophaps scripta_) is light brown on the
mantle and breast; the rest of the under side is grey, shading into white,
except on the yellowish brown belly. The quills and feathers of the
wing-covers have light edges, the outer web of many of the larger feathers
gleaming with greenish purple; the throat, upper breast, a broad line from
the lower mandible to the eyes, and a spot on the sides of the throat are
snow-white, adorned with very peculiar black markings resembling printed
letters. The eye is dark brown, the eye-ring blueish grey, the beak black,
and the foot deep, rich red. The length is twelve inches; that of the tail
five and a half inches.
"This Pigeon," says Gould, "has more than ordinary claims to the attention
both of the ornithologist and the epicure, since to the first it is of
interest as being a typical example of a minor group of the _Columbæ_,
whose habits and economy are very peculiar, and to the second as a most
delicate viand for the table.
"It is to be regretted that a bird possessing such high qualifications
as an article of food should be so exclusively a denizen of the plains
of the interior of Australia that it is available to few except inland
travellers, for it would be of especial interest to the sportsman from its
offering a closer resemblance to the _Gallinaceæ_ than any other Pigeon.
I sometimes observed it in pairs, but more frequently in small flocks of
from four to six in number, which, when approached, instead of seeking
safety by flight, ran off with exceeding rapidity in an opposite direction
and crouched down either on the bare plain or among any scanty herbage
that appeared to offer the best shelter, where they often lay until all
but trodden on."
When this Pigeon does rise, it flies with extreme rapidity, making a
loud burring noise with the wings, and generally spinning off to another
part of the plain, or to the horizontal branch of a tree, on which it
immediately squats in the same line as the branch, from which it is not
easily distinguished or driven off.
The two eggs are placed on the bare ground without any trace of nest. The
nestlings run and fly when only the size of a Quail. The food of this
bird principally consists of seeds of grasses and small plants, and in
some seasons insects and berries. Water seems quite an essential to its
existence; and many writers inform us that it is abundant on such plains
as are intersected by rivers and water-holes.
Gould met with this bird on the Liverpool Plains, and as he proceeded on
the Lower Namoi its numbers seemed to increase; it is said to be equally
abundant on the banks of all rivers between New South Wales and the
Murray, in South Australia. Mr. Gould has never observed it in collections
from the northern or western parts of that continent; thus it would appear
to be limited to the south and east.
* * * * *
The WHITE-FLESHED PIGEONS (_Leucosarcia_) are recognisable by their
powerful, compact build; long, round beak; short, shell-shaped wings;
moderate-sized, rounded tail, and very long tarsi.