Genus T r i c h o g l o s s u s , Vig. 8 f Horsf.
The arboreal group of Trichoglossi or honey-eating Lorikeets, if not so numerous in species as the grass-
feeding Parrakeets, are individually much more abundant and are more universally dispersed, being found in every
p art of the country yet visited; several species inhabit New South Wales: only one has yet been found in Western
Australia. Other members of the genus are found in New Guinea and the Moluccas, but Australia is the great
nursery for the birds of this form.
In their structure, habits and mode of nidification, and in their economy, no two groups of the same family
can be more widely different than the Trichoglossi and the Platycerci; the pencilled tongue, diminutive stomach,
thick skin, tough flesh, and foetid odour of the former presenting a decided contrast to the simple tongue,
capacious crop and stomach, thin skin, delicate flesh and freedom from odour of the latter; besides which the
Trichoglossi possess a strong os furcatorium, which organ is wanting in the Platycerci; hence while the Trichoglossi
are powerful, swift and arrow-like in their flight, the Platycerci are feeble, pass through the air in a succession of
undulations near the ground, and never fly to any great distance. The mode in which the two groups approach
and alight upon and quit the trees is also remarkably different; the Trichoglossi dashing among and alighting upon
the branches simultaneously, and with the utmost rapidity, and quitting them in like manner, leaving the deafening
sound of their thousand voices echoing through the woods ; while the Platycerci rise to the branches after their
undulating flight and leave them again in the like quiet manner, no sound being heard but their inward piping
note.
The eggs of the Trichoglossi are from two to four in number.
409. Trichoglossus Swainsonii, Jard. 8f Selb. . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI. 48.
410. Trichoglossus rubritorquis, Vig. Horsf. . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI. 49.
“ Procured at Port Molle on the north-east coast, previously only found at Port Essington.”—J. M'Gillivray.
411. Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI. 50.
412. Trichoglossus versicolor, Vig. . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V- PI. 51.
413. Trichoglossus concinnus . . . . . . . • . . Vol. V* P i 52.
414. Trichoglossus porphyrocephalus, Diet. . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI. 53.
415. Trichoglossus pusfllus . . . . . . . . , . . . . Vol. V. PI. 54.
Order RASORES, III.
Family COLUMBIA, Leach.
The members of this impoi'tant family are distributed over every portion of the globe, in no part of which are
they more numerous than in Australia, since that country is inhabited by no less than twenty-one species, which,
like its Psittacida, comprise several well-marked and distinct genera, and appear to be naturally divided into two
great groups, the one arboreal, the other terrestrial; the Ptilinopi, Carpophagce and Lopholaimus, with their expansive
gullets and broad hand-like feet forming part of the former, and the Phaps, Geophaps and Geopelice the latter. The
Ptilinopi and other allied forms are, in consequence of the peculiar character of the vegetation, confined, without a
single exception, to the eastern and northern parts of the country.
The species of the genus Phaps, a form which I believe to be confined to Australia, are more widely dispersed
than those of any other section o f the family, being universally distributed over the entire country from north to
south and from east to west; even the parched deserts of the interior are visited by them if a supply of water
be within reach of their evening flight, which is performed with the most extraordinary rapidity and power.
Genus P t i l in o p u s , Swains.
The species of this genus, the most brilliant and highly-coloured of the Columbidce, range over Australia, New
Guinea, Malacca, Celebes, and Polynesia; two of the three Australian species are I believe confined to that
country.
416. Ptilinopus Swainsonii, Gould . . y 0j y p j gg
417. Ptilinopus Ewingii, G o u l d ............................................... .. . . Vol V PI 66
418. Ptilinopus superbus . . . . . y 0j y pj g^
Ptilinopus superbus, Steph. cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 279.
Genus C a r p o p h a g a , Selby.
The species of this genus are widely dispersed over Australia, New Guinea, Malacca, Celebes and Polynesia.
Strictly arboreal in their habits and feeding entirely upon fruits, berries and seeds, they frequent the towering fig-
trees when their fruit is ripe, and the lofty palms for the sake of their large round seeds. I have frequently observed
large flocks moving about from one p art of the forest to another, consequently they may be considered a gregarious
race; their short tarsi and dilated feet are ill-adapted for the ground, and I have never seen them descend from the
trees, not even for water.
419. Carpophaga magnifica . _ Vol/V. PI. 58
420. Carpophaga leucomela ...................................................................................... y 0i y . pj 59
421. Carpophaga l u c t u o s a ................................................................................................................. Vol. V. PI. 60
Genus L o p h o l a im u s , G. Jl. Gray.
The single species of this genus is strictly a fruit-eating Pigeon, and is confined, so far as we yet know, to the
brushes of.New South Wales, where it moves about in large flocks and feeds upon the wild figs and other fruits, and
berries which the trees of the brushes afford.
422. Lopholaimus Antarcticus . Vol. V. PI. 61.
A noble bird ornamented with a large occipital crest.
Genus C h a l c o p h a p s , Gould.
Generic characters.
“ Bill slender, moderate and straight, the tip vaulted and rather arched; nostrils lateral, membranous and
. swollen, with the opening in the middle of the b ill; wings long, second and third primaries nearly equal and the
longest; tail moderate and much rounded; tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, robust and covered with
transverse scales; toes long, the lateral and the hind-toes nearly as long as the o u ter; claws moderate and curved.”
—Gray and Mitchell’s Genera of Birds, Art. G o u r in j e .
A genus of Brush Pigeons, the members of which seek their food on the ground and live on the fallen seeds
and berries they find there. Two species inhabit Australia, one of which is confined to the eastern and the other
to the northern coast; other species are found in Java, Sumatra, and on the continent of India, the whole forming
a group well worthy of investigation by the scientific ornithologist.
423. Chalcophaps chrysochlora . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI. 62
The bird of this form inhabiting the country in the neighbourhood of Port Essington differs from those
inhabiting New South Wales in the much greater length of the mandibles, and is altogether a much finer b ird :
consequently I am induced to believe that it is distinct from its southern prototype; I would therefore provisionally
name it—
424. Chalcophaps longirostris.
I have not figured it, inasmuch as the colouring is similar, but more brilliant, and has the bands across the
rump more distinct than in C. chrysochlora.