Part 35

J. & E. Gould del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

LOPHOLAIMUS ANTARCTICUS, G. R. Gray. Top-knot Pigeon.

Columba antarctica, Shaw, Zool. of New Holl., pl. 5.

Columba dilopha, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 124, and Pl. Col. 162.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 279.—Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. 11.

Lophorhynchus dilophus, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 348.

———— antarcticus, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 1st Edit., p. 58.

Lopholaimus antarcticus, G. R. Gray, Ibid. Appendix to 2nd Edit., p. 12.

Top-knot Pigeon of the Colonists of New South Wales.

Although the specific term of antarcticus is not an appropriate appellation for this noble Pigeon, still it cannot, I think, with strict propriety be sunk into a synonym, since it was first applied to it in a work intended exclusively to illustrate the zoology of New Holland, as will be seen on reference to the synonyms above quoted. I feel assured that my excellent and scientific friend M. Temminck was either unacquainted with the publication alluded to, or that the circumstance of its having been previously described and figured had escaped his memory, when he characterized this bird in the thirteenth volume of the “Linnean Transactions,” and subsequently figured it in his “Planches Coloriées,” under the name of Columba dilopha.

I have not yet seen specimens of this Pigeon from the northern or western coast, and it appears to be exclusively confined to the rich and luxuriant districts of the southern and eastern portions of Australia; being particularly abundant in the brushes of Illawarra, the Hunter, the Clarence, &c., where the trees furnish it at all seasons with a plentiful supply of food. So entirely arboreal are its habits, that I never once saw it descend to the ground, or even to the low shrub-like trees. It is strictly gregarious, often traversing the forests in flocks of many hundreds in search of those trees most laden with its favourite fruit; upon discovering which the entire flock alight simultaneously with a rushing noise, clinging to and bearing down the smaller twigs and branches with their weight, for grasping which their broad, hand-like feet seem peculiarly fitted. It is a bird of very powerful flight, and usually flies at a considerable elevation in flocks closely packed together.

Among other substances found in the stomachs of those specimens I dissected, were the wild-fig and the large round berries of the cabbage-palm; and in all probability it also feeds upon other fruits of a still larger size, as its bill and throat are capable of being dilated to such an extent as to admit of a substance as large as a walnut being swallowed entire.

Its flesh is not so good as that of the other members of its family inhabiting Australia, being coarse and dry-eating.

I had no opportunity of observing its nidification, neither could I obtain any information on the subject.

The sexes are alike in plumage, and may be thus described:—

Crest over the nostrils, sides of the head, neck, breast, and under surface silvery grey, the feathers of the neck and breast being hackled, and admitting the darker colouring of their bases to be perceived through the interstices; elongated crest at the occiput rust-red; from the eye to the occiput beneath the crest a line of black, which, meeting behind, is continued for a short distance down the back of the neck; all the upper surface dark slate-grey; primaries, secondaries, and edge of the wing black; tail light grey at the base, black for the remainder of its length, crossed by an irregular band of buffy grey about an inch from the extremity; irides fiery orange, surrounded by a lash of pink-red, and seated in a bare mealy space of the same colour, but hardly so bright; bill bright rose-red, inclining to lilac at the tip; fleshy part covering the nostrils and at the base of the lower mandible, greenish lead-colour in the male, and lead-colour in the female; feet purplish red; back of the tarsi and sole of the feet greyish brown.

The figure is of the natural size.

CHALCOPHAPS CHRYSOCHLORA.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

CHALCOPHAPS CHRYSOCHLORA. Little Green Pigeon.

Tourterelle de Java, Buff. Pl Enl. 177?

Columba Javanica, Auctorum?

Colombe Turvert, Temm. Pig., fol. 2nd fam. pl. 26. p. 62.—Ib. Pig. et Gall., tom. ii. pp. 252 and 468.

Columba chrysochlora, Wagl. Syst. Av. Columba, sp. 79.

There are, in my opinion, several closely allied species of this form, distributed over Australia and the islands of Java, Sumatra, &c., whose specific characters have never been accurately defined; I am inclined to consider the Javanese bird as distinct from that here figured, and the bird inhabiting the northern coast of Australia, of which I have only seen one or two examples, as distinct from both. The principal difference that I have yet observed in the two species inhabiting Australia, is that the one from the north coast has the bill of much greater length than that from New South Wales; a more minute comparison, however, is necessary to ascertain if they be identical or not.

The Little Green Pigeon is sparingly dispersed in all the brushes of New South Wales, both those clothing the mountain ranges as well as those near the coast; how far it may proceed northwards has not yet been ascertained. The brushy districts are the localities peculiarly adapted to it, and these I believe it never leaves for the more open parts of the country; hence it is but little known to, and seldom seen by, the colonists, a circumstance the more to be regretted, as the beauty and brilliancy of its plumage and the neatness of its form render it one of the most pleasing objects to behold that occur in the Australian forests. When flushed, it flies very quickly through the scrub, but to no great distance, and readily eludes pursuit by pitching suddenly to the ground, and remaining so quiet that it can rarely be discovered.

I never met with its nest, nor could I obtain, either from the natives or settlers, any particulars respecting its nidification.

Its chief food during one season of the year is the seeds of the stiff wiry grass figured in the Plate, which was gathered at Illawarra.

The sexes differ considerably in colour, and the female is somewhat smaller than her mate.