LOPHOLAIMUS ANTARCTICUS «ro

Top-knot Pigeon.

‘ay.

Columba antarctica, Shaw, Zool. of New PONE ple a

Columba dilopha, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 1245 and Pl, Col. 16
—Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. 11.

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

———— antarcticus, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, Ist Edit.,

Lopholaimus antarcticus, G. R. Gray, MSS.

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

9

—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. Dp. 249:

 

p. 58.

 

A.rHouGH the specific term of antarcticus is not an appropriate appellation for this noble Pigeon, still it
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 eithe ate

with the publication alluded to, or that the circumstance of its having bee

cannot, I think, with strict propriety be sunk into

r unacquainted
n previously described and figured
had escaped his memory, when he characterized this bird in the thirteenth volume of the “ Linnean ihrane
actions,” 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
bearmg 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 ma 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 callous 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 colo 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.