_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PERISTERA CHALCOPTERA, _Swains._
Bronze-winged Pigeon.
_Columba chalcoptera_, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 604.—Wagl. Syst.
Av. Columba, sp. 57.
_Colombe lumachelle_, Temm. Pig., fol. 2nde fam. pl. 8. p. 17.—Ib.
Pig. et Gall., tom. ii. pp. 103 and 448.
_La Tourterelle aux ailes dorées_, Sonn. edit. de Buff., tom. vii. p.
309.
_Bronze-winged Pigeon_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 266.—Phill.
Bot. Bay, pl. in p. 162.—White’s Journ., pl. in p. 146.—Shaw, Lev.
Mus., p. 227. pl. 55.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. viii. p. 31.—Steph.
Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xi. p. 17, and vol. xiv. p. 280.
_Peristera chalcoptera_, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 349.
_Phaps chalcoptera_, Selby, Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. v. Pigeons, p. 195.
pl. 21.—G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit. p. 75.
_Ȍo-da_, Aborigines of Western Australia.
_Ar-a-wȁr-ra-wa_, Aborigines of Port Essington.
_Bronze Pigeon_, Colonists of Swan River.
The Bronze-winged Pigeon is so generally distributed over all parts of
Australia, that, without a single exception, the colonists of every
settlement have found the surrounding country inhabited by this fine
bird. Specimens from Port Essington, Swan River, Van Diemen’s Land and
New South Wales differ so little from each other, either in their size
or markings, that they must all be regarded as one and the same species,
the slight differences that do occur being too trivial to be considered
as other than mere local variations.
It is a plump, heavy bird, weighing when in good condition fully a
pound; and its pectoral muscles being deep and fleshy, it constitutes a
most excellent viand and is constantly eaten by every class of persons,
being equally acceptable at the table of the Governor and at that of the
inmate of a log-hut in the interior of the country. Its amazing powers
of flight enable it to pass in an incredibly short space of time over a
great expanse of country, and just before sunset it may be observed
swiftly winging its way over the plains or down the gullies to its
drinking-place. During the long drought of 1839–40, when I was encamped
at the northern extremity of the Brezi range, I had daily opportunities
of observing the arrival of this bird to drink; the only water for
miles, as I was assured by the natives, being that in the immediate
vicinity of my tent, and that was merely the scanty supply left in a few
small natural basins in the rocks, which had been filled by the rains of
many months before. This peculiar situation afforded me an excellent
opportunity for observing not only the Bronze-wing, but every other bird
inhabiting the neighbourhood: few if any of the true insectivorous or
fissirostral birds came to the water-holes; but, on the other hand,
those species that live upon grain and seeds, particularly the Parrots
and Honey-eaters (_Trichoglossi_ and _Meliphagi_), were continually
rushing down to the edges of the pools, utterly regardless of my
presence, their thirst for water quite overcoming their sense of danger;
seldom, if ever, however, did the Bronze-wing make its appearance during
the heat of the day, but at sundown, on the contrary, it arrived with
arrow-like swiftness, either singly or in pairs. It did not descend at
once to the edge of the pool, but dashed down to the ground at about ten
yards’ distance, remained quiet for a short time, then walked leisurely
to the water, and after taking libations deep and frequent, winged its
way to its roosting-place for the night: with a knowledge, therefore, of
the habits of this bird, the weary traveller may always perceive when he
is in the vicinity of water; and however arid the appearance of the
country may be, if he observes the Bronze-wing wending its way from all
quarters to a given point, he may be certain to procure a supply of food
and water. When rain has fallen in abundance, and the rivers and lagoons
are filled not only to the brim, but the water has spread over the
surface of the surrounding country, the case is materially altered; then
the Bronze-wing and many other birds are not so easily procured, the
abundant supply of the element so requisite to their existence rendering
it no longer necessary that they should brave every danger in procuring
it.
It has been supposed that a partial migration of this species takes
place from time to time, a circumstance which I think is very probable,
as its numbers are sometimes suddenly increased. After the breeding
season is over, both the adults and young resort to the stubble fields
of the settlers in such abundance, that although more than one can
rarely be procured at a shot, from twenty to thirty brace may be killed
in a day; and at this season it is in better condition than at any
other. Although, as I have before stated, the Bronze-wing is an
excellent article of food, it must yield the palm in this respect to the
Wonga-wonga Pigeon (_Leucosarcia picata_) and the Partridge Bronze-wing
(_Geophaps scripta_), whose flesh is white and more delicate in flavour,
while the internal pectoral muscle only of the present bird is of that
colour.
The Bronze-wing feeds entirely upon the ground, where it finds the
various kinds of leguminous seeds that constitute its food. It breeds
during August and the four following months, and often rears two or more
broods; the eggs are white and two in number, one inch and three-eighths
long and one inch broad.
Its nest, which is very similar to that of the other members of the
family, is a frail structure of small twigs, rather hollow in form, and
is usually placed on the horizontal branch of an apple- or gum-tree near
the ground, those trees growing on flat meadow land near water being
evidently preferred. This species is very frequently seen in
confinement, both in its native country and in England, but I have not
heard whether it will or will not breed in captivity. At Swan River it
is said to be migratory, and to be met with in the interior of that part
of the country in large flocks. At Port Essington, on the contrary, it
would seem to be stationary, as Mr. Gilbert mentions that it is found
equally abundant in all parts of the country; its nest is there placed
upon the branches of the Banksias.
Forehead in some deep buff, in others buffy white; line under the eye
and the chin yellowish white; crown of the head and occiput dark brown,
bounded on the sides with plum-colour; sides of the neck grey; back of
the neck and all the upper surface brown, each feather margined with
tawny brown; wings brown with paler edges; each of the coverts with an
oblong spot of rich lustrous coppery bronze on the outer web near the
base, the outline of which towards the extremity of the feather is
sharply defined; tip of each of the coverts grey fading into white on
the extreme tip; two or three of the tertiaries with an oblong spot of
lustrous green on their outer webs at the base, bounded by a narrow line
of buff; two centre tail-feathers brown; the remainder deep grey,
crossed by a band of black near the tip; under surface of the wing and
inner edges of the primaries and secondaries ferruginous; breast deep
vinaceous, passing into greyish on the centre of the abdomen and under
tail-coverts; irides dark reddish brown; bill blackish grey; legs and
feet carmine-red.
The figures represent the male and female of the natural size, the
latter in the agonies of death from a shot-wound.
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