_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
CARPOPHAGA LEUCOMELA.
White-headed Fruit Pigeon.
_Columba leucomela_, Temm. in Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii. p.
126.—Ib. Pl. Col., 186.
_Columba leucomelana_, Wagl. Syst. Av., pars i. Columba, sp. 56.
_Columba Norfolciensis_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. lx.?
_Norfolk Pigeon_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. Add. p. 374?—Ib.
Gen. Hist., vol. viii. p. 30?
This fine species of Pigeon is an inhabitant of those vast primæval
forests of New South Wales to which the colonists have applied the name
of Brushes. I found it very numerous on Mosquito and the other low
islands near the mouth of the river Hunter, as well as in the cedar
brushes of the Liverpool range; I believe that it breeds in both those
districts; and that it never quits these luxuriant forests is the more
probable, as a plentiful supply of fruits and berries is furnished by
the various species of trees at every season of the year; the wild fig,
the palm-nut and the grape, constitute a considerable portion of its
food. I have frequently observed it sweeping over the forests in flocks
of from ten to fifty in number, and often seen it also in pairs. It
feeds on the wild fig, whose slender branches are borne down by its
weight, particularly when it clings to the extreme end of the spray to
obtain the best and ripest fruit; in this mode of clinging and in many
of its actions it far more resembles the larger Honey-eaters and Parrots
than the Pigeons; an examination moreover of the structure of the foot
of a typical _Carpophaga_ will show that it deviates from that of the
true Pigeons, and that it is beautifully adapted for the duties it is
intended to perform. I have never seen this bird on the ground, not even
to procure water, and the form of its foot is as little adapted for
terrestrial progression, as it is admirably constructed for use among
the smaller branches of the trees.
The powers of flight of this species are very great, its voluminous wing
enabling it to pass from one part of the forest to another, or to a new
district in a comparatively short space of time; hence flocks may
frequently be observed passing over the tops of the trees, forsaking a
locality they have exhausted of its supplies and in search of another
where food is more abundant.
The nest of this species, like that of the other Columbidæ, is a slight
flat structure formed of small sticks and twigs; the eggs are frequently
only one, and never more than two in number, of a pure white.
The sexes may be distinguished by the smaller size of the female, and by
her colours being less strongly contrasted than those of her mate, the
yellowish white of the head and breast blending into the darker
colouring of the other parts.
The male has the head, neck and breast white, washed with buff,
particularly on the crown; all the upper surface, wings and tail greyish
black; all the feathers of the back, rump and lesser wing-coverts
bordered with bronzy-purple in some, and greenish purple in others;
flanks slate-colour; abdomen dingy-buff; bill for two-thirds from the
base beautiful pink-red, covered with a mealy substance; tip of the bill
yellowish white tinged with lilac; irides large and of a rich yellowish
hazel in some specimens, reddish orange in others; naked skin of the
orbits mealy pink-red; feet buff, with the scales pink-red and the nails
white.
The figures are of the natural size, and represent the bird feeding on
one of the fruits of the brushes called wild cherry by the colonists.
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