GEO PELIA TRANQUILLA, Gould.
Peaceful Dove.

Geopelia placida, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc.. Part XH os 56:

 

Tue interior of the country northward from New South Wales is inhabited by considerable numbers of this
pretty little Dove, but it has not yet been met with either in Southern or Western Australia. It was very
abundant on the Namoi, particularly on the lower part of that river; and that its range will extend over a
large part of the interior, is more than probable. ;

A bird precisely similar in markings, but of a smaller size, is very abundant at Port Essington, and the
two birds may prove to be mere varieties of each other; at the same time, as so great a variation in size
rarely if ever occurs in a state of nature, I have for the present considered it to be a distinct species, and
assigned to it the name of Geopelia placida; it is nearly one-third less than the bird here represented, but
as there is not the slightest difference in the markings, it will not be necessary for me to give a figure of it.

The bird found in the neighbourhood of the Lower Namoi was chiefly observed on the ground, feeding on
the seeds of the various kinds of plants that grow under the shelter of the thinly-timbered forests bordering
the plains. It was frequently seen in flocks, and was equally as tame as the Geopelia cuneata.

The Port Essington bird is abundantly and equally distributed over all parts of the peninsula and the
neighbouring islands ; its favourite haunts being moist meadows or the grassy banks of small streams, and
grass-seeds its principal food. It is usually met with in flocks of from twenty to fifty in number, which
when disturbed generally tiy off to the nearest tree ; on alighting they jerk the tail very erect, and utter
their slowly-repeated and monotonous double note ; at other times they coo very faintly, after the manner
of the other members of the family.

It is said to make a slight nest in a hollow among the grass near the ground, and to lay two eggs.

The only observable difference between the sexes is the smaller size of the female.

Face and throat grey ; occiput, back and wings ashy brown, each feather with a band of deep velvety
black at the extremity ; spurious wings and primaries dark brown ; under surface of the shoulders chest-
nut; chest, sides and back of the neck grey, crossed by numerous narrow pads of black; a eae
flanks vinous ; four central tail-feathers ashy brown, the remainder black are tipped with white ; inides
light ash-grey ; bill and orbits bright greyish blue, becoming much paler oe and behind the eye ; frontal
scales of the tarsi and feet dark greenish grey ; remainder of the legs and feet reddish flesh-colour.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.

AL