less readily than those taken direct from the tree.  Planted with the red mace still adherent the nuts are quite reliable; others which have been swallowed by the pigeon and ejected, though submitted to like conditions, fail in considerable proportion.  So that the oft-repeated theory that the Queensland nutmeg requires primarily to undergo some chemical process similar to that which takes place in the crop of the pigeon to ensure germination, has no foundation whatever in fact.  The part the pigeon performs is to transport the nut to free, unstifled soil.

No bird is more precise and punctual in its visits.  It comes to its nesting-places and departs with almost almanac-like regularity.  It is a large bird as pigeons go, and becomes wonderfully tame and trustful when undisturbed.  Specimens may be procured in thousands.  Blacks, understanding their habits, climb particular trees known to be well patronised, and as the birds swoop down to rest, kill them easily with a swoop of a long slender stick, or hurl nulla-nullas into the home-coming flocks, just as they alight.  It is not a good table bird, the flesh being dark, tough, and of an earthy flavour—­far inferior to the generality of pigeons, and not to be compared with ground or aquatic game.

FRUIT-EATERS

The tyrannical fig-tree of the species referred to elsewhere, in full fruit—­pink in colouring until it attains purple ripeness—­attracts birds from all parts, and for nearly a quarter of the year is as gay as a theatre.  From sunset to sunrise birds feast and flirt with but brief interludes.  A general dispersal of the assemblage occurs only in the tragic presence of a falcon, whose murderous deeds are transiently recorded by stray painted feathers.  But the fright soon passes, and the magnificent fruit pigeon—­green, golden-yellow, purplish-maroon, rich orange, bluish-grey, and greenish-yellow, are his predominant colours—­resumes his love-plaint in bubbling bass.  “Bub-loo, bub-loo maroo,” he says over and over again in unbirdlike tone, without emphasis or lilt.  “Bub-loo, bub-loo maroo,” a grievance, a remonstrance and a threat in one doleful phrase; but to the flattered female it is all compliment and gallantry.  That other, known as the allied—­so like his cousin that his dissonant accents, “quok—­quok—­quoo,” are more to be relied upon as ready means of identification than any striking difference in plumage; the white-headed, the pheasant-tail, the gorgeous “superb,” the tranquil dove, Ewing’s fruit pigeon—­most timorous of the order—­are regular patrons, and each of the family has the distinctive demeanour and note.  All save the allied—­which is too full of assurance and fruit to be disconcerted by the presence of man—­may flutter into the jungle, and then, as the momentary disturbance subsides, a study, whimsical and rich, begins.

With one exception the fruit pigeons, however gay the colouring of the throat and breast and under parts generally, are green of back, that passing falcons may be deceived by resemblance to leafy environment.  Yet the “superb” and Ewing’s and Swainson’s have the richest of crowns—­crowns pink, or shimmering rosy purple.  Why this fanciful decoration if not to carry the delusion further by resemblance to a flower?