LOPHOPHAPS LEUCOGASTER, Gould.

White-bellied Bronzewine.

 

t the propriety of describing ; STCa Teneo anes . ae
I Ee pha proy y describing and figuring this very lovely Pigeon as distinct from Lophophaps
plumifera is somewhat questionable ; but when I reflect upon the difference which I find to exist between the
two birds, and ol distant are their respective homes, I cannot regard them otherwise. The ZL. plumifera
inhabits the moe swoushood of the Victoria River, where six or eight were shot by the late Mr. Elsey ;
Mr. Bynoe also found it in the country between Cape Hotham and Depuch Island; and Gilbert met with it
in lat. 17°, while journeying with Dr. Leichardt from Brisbane to Port Essington. Now all these localities

are far away from South Australia, whence the specimens here represented came; moreover the two

individuals from which the opposite figures were taken are far more beautiful than those represented in
vol. y. pl. 69 under the name of Geophaps plumifera; but even should it ultimately prove that the two birds
are identical, and that I have encumbered science with a name which, in that case, must descend into the
rank of a synonym, I feel that I shall be excused for giving additional figures of such lovely objects. The
specimens from which they were taken were sent to this country by Mr. Galbraith, of Machribanish Station,
South Australia, and are now in the possession of his sister, Mrs. Craufuird, of Budleigh Salterton,
Devon. The question is, Are there two or three species of these charming little crested Pigeons >—the
L. ferruginea, of the extreme western part of the country, the Z. plumifera, of its northern portions, and the
L. leucogaster, of South Australia? If so, the latter is probably the bird seen by Captain Sturt, during his
arduous travels in that country, who states :—

“Tt was on the return of my party from the eastern extremity of Cooper's Creek, that we first saw and
procured specimens of this beautiful little bird. Its locality was entirely confined to about thirty miles
along the banks of the creek in question; it was generally perched on some rock fully exposed to the sun’s
rays, and evidently taking a pleasure in basking in the tremendous heat. It was very wild, and took wing on
hearing the least noise. In the afternoon it was seen running in the grass a the creek-side, ene could
hardly be distinguished from a Quail. It never perched on the trees; when it dropped after rising from
the ground, it could seldom be flushed again, but ran with such speed through the grass as to elude our
search.”

One of the principal differences between the present bird and the L. plumifera is the whiteness of it
breast, and another the brightness of the rayed markings of its upper surface ; it 1s oe a Soman at
larger bird. My figures, which accurately represent it of the size of life, render a detailed description

unnecessary.