A genus consisting of a single species whose natural habitat is the basin of the interior of Australia, over the vast expanse of which its long pointed wings enable it to pass at pleasure from one district to another whenever a scarcity of food prompts it so to do: although mainly terrestrial in its habits, it is more frequently seen on the trees than the members of the genus _Phaps_; its food consists of small seeds and berries. 432. Ocyphaps Lophotes Vol. V. Pl. 70. Genus PETROPHASSA, _Gould_. Generic characters. As in _Ocyphaps_, but with the wings shorter, more rounded and destitute of the bronzy lustre; and with a more rounded tail. So little is known respecting the single species of this Australian genus that I am unable to say more than that it inhabits rocky situations near the sea-coast. 433. Petrophassa albipennis, _Gould_ Vol. V. Pl. 71. Genus GEOPELIA, _Swains._ A form of Ground Doves very generally distributed over the Indian Islands and Australia, and of which three or four species are peculiar to the latter country; grassy hills, flats and extensive plains are the situations these birds affect, consequently in Australia they are almost exclusively confined to the interior; they pass over the ground in a quiet and peaceful manner; and when disturbed fly to some neighbouring tree, descend again almost immediately and search about for the minute seeds of annuals and other plants, upon which they principally subsist. 434. Geopelia humeralis Vol. V. Pl. 72. 435. Geopelia tranquilla, _Gould_ Vol. V. Pl. 73. 436. Geopelia placida, _Gould_. Inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Essington, is much smaller than _G. tranquilla_, but in colour and marking is precisely similar to that species. 437. Geopelia cuneata Vol. V. Pl. 74. “All that we read or imagine of the softness and innocence of the dove,” says Captain Sturt, “is realized in this beautiful and delicate bird; it is common on the Murray and the Darling, and was met with in various parts of the interior. Two remained with us at the Depôt in latitude 39° 40′, longitude 142°, during a great part of the winter, and on one occasion roosted on the tent-ropes near the fire. Its note is exceedingly plaintive, similar to, but softer than, that of the turtle-dove of Europe.” Genus MACROPYGIA, _Swains._ A genus the members of which are distributed over India, Java, New Guinea, Ceram, the Moluccas, Australia, &c. Only one species, _M. Phasianella_, has yet been found in the last-mentioned country, but others may be discovered when its eastern and northern parts have been more fully explored. 438. Macropygia Phasianella Vol. V. Pl. 75.