orphyry-crowned Parroquet.

This pretty bird has a green plumage, but is distinguished by a deep blue
patch on the crown of the head; from which it derives its name.

95. PEZOPORUS FORMOSUS.--The Ground Parrot.

This bird was only twice seen in the interior, but on both occasions in
the same scrubby and salty country it is known to frequent in New South
Wales and other places. A specimen was shot by Mr. Stuart, in the bed of
a salt lagoon in 26 1/2 degrees of latitude, and 14 1/2 degrees of
longitude, but none of these birds were seen to the west of that point.
It has dark green plumage mottled with black, and has a patch of dull red
over the bill.

96. PHAPS CHALCOPTERA.--Common Bronze-wing.

This fine pigeon, so well known in the located parts of the continent,
was also generally spread over the interior. Its habits are peculiar,
insomuch that it goes to water at so late an hour that it is almost
impossible to see them. They were rather numerous at the Depot, but very
few were shot there. In the more distant interior, when we should
frequently have been glad of one of these birds to give a relish to our
monotonous diet, they were equally as difficult to be shot, and although
we sat at the edge of any pond near which we happened to be, and watched
with noiseless anxiety, they would get to the water, and the sharp flap
of their wings in rising, alone told us we had missed our game. The
natives of the Murray set nets across any gully down which they fly to
water on the banks of the Murray, and so catch them in great numbers. The
Bronze-wing is strong in his flight, and is a plump bird, and capital to
eat. Its general colour is brown lightly mottled, it has a dirty-white
crown, and the wing feathers are a beautiful bronze.

97. PHAPS ELEGANS.--Small Brush Bronze-wing.

This is much smaller than the above, and not so common. It inhabits close
brushes, and is flushed like a woodcock, there seldom being more than two
together. Its plumage is darker than Phaps chalcoptera, nor is there any
white about it except on the crown of the head, the secondary wing
feathers being of a bronze colour, without any shade of blue and green,
so prominent in the first described of these birds.

98. PHAPS HISTRIONICA, GOULD.--The Harlequin Bronze-wing.

This beautiful pigeon is an inhabitant of the interior. Its range was
between the parallels of 31 1/2 degrees and 26 degrees, but it was never
seen to the south of Stanley's Barrier Ra