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 bearing 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 wing 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 colour, 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-colour 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.
[Illustration:
CHALCOPHAPS CHRYSOCHLORA.
_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
CHALCOPHAPS CHRYSOCHLORA.
Little Green Pigeon.
_Tourterelle de Java_, Buff. Pl Enl. 177?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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