P E T K f o P H A f g ^ A L B I P E N N I S , Gould.
White-quilled'Rock Dove.
Petrophassa albipennis; Gould in Proof oifZpqlr
THisiljighly singular species of Pigeon is an inhabitant of the most rugged, rocky anch sterile districts of
the. north-west coast of Australia. The specimens in my possession were sent ^e^h^the' Officers of the
Beagle, hut, I rfegret to say, were unaccompanied by any particulars respecting their history. The form of
the wm^^onMr lead us tp^imagine that in many parts of its economy this species much resembles those of
the members of the genus >Geophaps; but on these points nothing can be ascertained with certainty, until
the productions' of those remote parts of Australia have been carefully investigated, a period which, from
the inhospitable character of.the country, I fear isfaifdistant.
Crown of the head and neck greyish brown, margined with sandy brown; all the upper surface, chest and
tail rufous brown, the cemgMof each feather imftn^^tiMMey;; loreslblabk ;abdomen and"under tail-coverts
brown; thrpa1 ^ 1b|hed with small feathers white attbefti|>,black at %fc*base; primaries dark
brown a t their tips, the basal half pure white ;' ^ n and irides bla^islrh^py^n^ffiet reddish brown.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size.