Geopelia, our next genus, is composed of about six species, four being natives of Australia, some of which, together with the remaining members of the genus, being found in different Moluccan and Papuan islands.

In Australia they inhabit the hills and extensive plains of the interior, passing much of their time upon the ground.

They are small birds, with a modest plumage destitute of metallic coloring.

The tails are long and graduated, and they have rather lengthened legs, to fit them for their terrestrial life.

The humeralis is one of the most elegant of these graceful crea- tures, and is extremely abundant at Port Essington, inhabiting swampy grounds and banks of running streams.