_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
LEUCOSARCIA PICATA.
Wonga-wonga.
_Columba picata_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. lix.—Wagl. Syst. Av.
Columba, sp. 42.
_Columba armillaris_, Colombe grivelée, Temm. Pig. et Gall., fol. 2nd
fam. pl. 6. p. 13.—Ib. Pig. et Gall., tom. i. pp. 97 and 447.—Shaw,
Gen. Zool., vol. xi. p. 15.
_Pied Pigeon_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 268.—Ib. Gen. Hist.,
vol. viii. p. 47.
_Columba Jamiesonii_, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. Partie Zoolog., p. 123.
_Columba melanoleuca_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. lix.—Wagl. Syst. Av.
Columbæ non visæ, sp. 8.
_Colombe Goadgang_, Temm. Pig., fol. p. 118.—Ib. Pig. et Gall., tom.
i. pp. 369 and 447.
_White-faced Pigeon_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 268.—Ib. Gen.
Hist., vol. viii. p. 46.
_Wonga-wonga_, Aborigines of New South Wales.
_White-fleshed_ and _Wonga-wonga Pigeon_, Colonists of New South
Wales.
The Pigeon forming the subject of the present memoir must always be an
object of more than ordinary interest, since, independently of its
attractive plumage, it is a great delicacy for the table; its large size
and the whiteness of its flesh rendering it in this respect second to no
other member of its family, the only one that at all approximates to it
being the _Geophaps scripta_. It is to be regretted that a bird
possessing so many qualifications as the present species should not be
generally dispersed over the country, but such is not the case. To look
for it on the plains or in any of the open hilly parts would be useless;
no other districts than the brushes which stretch along the line of
coast of New South Wales, or those clothing the sides of the hills of
the interior being favoured with its presence. The same kind of
situations that are suited to the Brush Turkey (_Talegalla Lathami_),
the Menura and the Satin Bower-bird are equally adapted to those of the
Wonga-wonga; its distribution, therefore, over Australia mainly depends
upon whether the surface of the country be or be not clothed with that
rich character of vegetation common to the south-eastern portion of the
continent. As the length of its tarsi would lead one to expect, the
Wonga-wonga spends most of its time on the ground, where it feeds upon
the seeds and stones of the fallen fruits of the towering trees under
whose shade it dwells, seldom exposing itself to the rays of the sun, or
seeking the open parts of the forest. While traversing these arborean
solitudes, one is frequently startled by the sudden rising of the
Wonga-wonga, the noise of whose wings is quite equal to, and not very
different from, that made by a Pheasant. Its flight is not of long
duration, this power being merely employed to remove it to a sufficient
distance to avoid detection by again descending to the ground, or
mounting to the branch of a neighbouring tree. I had frequent
opportunities of personally observing it at Illawarra, on the low
islands at the mouth of the river Hunter, and in the cedar brushes of
the Liverpool range. During my encampment in each of these parts, it was
always secured whenever an opportunity occurred, for the purpose of
eating, the addition of bread-sauce rendering it no ordinary fare.
Of the nidification of this valuable bird I could gain no precise
information. It is a species that bears confinement well, and with an
ordinary degree of attention, may doubtless be rendered domesticated and
useful.
The sexes present no external difference in the markings of their
plumage, but the female is somewhat inferior to her mate in size.
Lores black; forehead and chin white; all the upper surface, wings and
tail deep slate-grey; primaries brown; the three lateral tail-feathers
on each side tipped with white; sides of the head light grey, gradually
passing into the greyish black of the breast, which latter colour is
interrupted on each side by a broad line of white which passes obliquely
down, and meets on the centre of the breast near the lower margin of the
greyish black; feathers of the abdomen and flanks white, the latter with
a triangular black spot near the extremity of each feather; under
tail-coverts dark brown, largely tipped with buff, particularly on the
inner webs; irides very dark brown, surrounded by a narrow pink-red
lash; tip of the bill purplish black; base of the bill and the fleshy
operculum covering the nostrils pink-red; legs and feet bright pink-red.
The Plate represents the male and female of the natural size.
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