afternoon this little pigeon was seen running in the grass on the creek side, and could hardly be distinguished from a quail.  It never perched on the trees, but when it dropped after rising from the ground, could seldom be flushed again, but ran with such speed through the grass as to elude our search.  The plate, to which I may refer the reader at page 83, vol.  II. in which he will see it figured, will supersede the necessity of any description.  The Geophaps plumifera was found, I believe, in considerable numbers on the Lind and the Burdekin by Doctor Leichhardt, during his journey from Moreton Bay to Port Essington.

100.  Ocyphaps lophotes.—­Crested Pigeon of the Marshes.

The locality of this beautiful pigeon is always near water.  It is a bird of the depresed interior, never ascending to higher land where there are extensive marshes covered with the polygonum geranium.  In river valleys, on the flats of which the same bramble grows, the Ocyphaps lophotes is sure to be found.  It was first seen by me on the banks of the Macquarie, in lat. 31 degrees during my expedition to the Darling, but there is no part of the interior over which I have subsequently travelled where it is not, and it is very evident that its range is right across the continent from north to south.  The general colour of this bird is a light purple or slate colour, and its form and plumage are both much more delicate than that of the Bronze-wing, but it is by no means so fine a bird, its flesh being neither tender nor well-flavoured.

This bird is figured in my former work, page 79, vol.  I. It has a crest, and is marked on the back and wings very similar to Geophaps plumiferus.  This bird builds in low shrubs in exposed situations, and lays two eggs on so few twigs that it is only surprising how they remain together.

101.  Geopelia cuneata.—­Speckled Dove.

All that we read or imagine of the softness and innocence of the dove is realised in this beautiful and delicate little bird.  It is very small and has a general purple plumage approaching to lilac.  It has a bright red skin round the eyes, the iris being also red, and its wings are speckled over with delicate white spots.  This sweet bird is common on the Murray and the Darling, and was met with in various parts of the interior, but I do not think that it migrates to the N.W.  Two remained with us at the Depot in latitude 39 degrees 40 minutes, longitude 142 degrees, during a greater part of the winter, and on one occasion roosted on my tent ropes near a fire.  The note of this dove is exceedingly plaintive, and is softer, but much resembles the coo of the turtle-dove.

102.  Geopelia TRANQUILLA, Gould.—­Ventriloquist Dove.