Page:The Emu volume 10.djvu/357

 igif '] , Harbour by the aboriginal natives attached to the mission station, but they were not identified. Subsequently, I spent a good deal of time hunting in these scrubs without securing any specimens, although I saw and heard Pigeons which I believe were referable to this species.

Ptilopus ewingi (Rose-crowned Fruit-Pigeon). A very uncommon species, which was seen only in the dense tropical scrub on the eastern slopes of Parry Harbour on 15 th April, 1910. Measurements of bird in mm. : — Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Imm. cj .. — .. 112 .. 16

Geopelia humeralis (Barred-shouldered Dove). A very common species in the mangroves on the coast and islands from King Sound (Derby) to Parry Harbour, but uncommon further north.

Geopelia placida (Ground-Dove). Eggs of this very common bird were taken from 21/12/09 to 3/5/10. The nests are generally built at from 4 feet 6 inches to 7 feet from the ground, in small scrub. Measurements of birds in mm. : — Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. Bill. 13-5 Tail. 72 S 217 218 95 16 16 13.5 .. 98.5 ii-S •• 87

Phaps chalcoptera (Bronze-wing Pigeon). Were fairly plentiful. The nesting season extends from the middle of March to the end of July. Measurements of birds in mm. : — Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. s •• 355 • . 189 . 26 . • 19-5 • • 135 <s • • 363 • . 185 ..26 . 20.5 . • 131 ? • • 324 • . 165 . . 22 20 . 120 $ •• 327 • . 176 ..23 . 20 . — Petrophassa albipennis (White-quilled Rock-Pigeon). Resident, and fairly numerous, on the rocky plateau country east of Napier Broome Bay. Like Geophaps smithi (Naked-eyed Partridge- Pigeon) they were sometimes met with in flocks of 6 or 8 birds, but more often in pairs. The nests are built of twigs placed on the most exposed surfaces of rocks. The mission " boys " told me that most of these Pigeons nested in September, which is correct, I think, although I took eggs in the middle of October and as late as the end of April. Acacia seeds form the principal article of food. Measurements of birds in mm. : — Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. 6" . . 286 . 123 . . 21 • 13 • 113 <?

122 . . 21 12 III ? •• 275 . 122 . . 21 . 14 . 108 ? . . 286 . 125 . . 21 . 14 . 116 ? . . 269 . 121 . . 22 II — Geophaps smith: (Naked-eyed Partridge-Pigeon). A common species in all localities east of Napier Broome Bay, where they were generally seen in flocks of from 6 to 20 birds. Young