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Show 360 AVES. covered with a cartilaginous scale, which even forms a bu]ge at the base of the bill; the bony sternum is deeply and doubly emarginated, although somewhat differently; the crop extremely dilated, and the lower larynx furnished with but a single proper muscle; but there is no other membrane between the base of their toes than that which results from the continuity of the edges. Their tail is composed of twelve quills. They fly well, live in a state of monogamy, build on trees or in fissures among rocks, and lay but few eggs at a time, generally two; it is true they lay frequently. The male assists his mate in the business of brooding. They nourish their young by disgorging macerated grain into their crop. They form but one genus, which naturalists have attempted to divide into three sub· genera, from the greater or less strength of the bill and the propor· tions of the feet. The CoLUMBI-GALLINES, Vaill. Approximate to the ordinary Gallinacere still more than the other subgenera, by their more elevated tarsi and their habit of living in flocks, seeking their food on the ground, and never perching. Their beak is thin and flexible. One species is even allied to the Gallinacere by the caruncle& and naked portions of skin that distinguish its head; it is the Columba carunculata, Tern. pl. 11; Columbi-galline, Vaill. 278. A second is at all events connected with them by its size, which about eq~als that of the Turkey; it is the Crowned Pigeon of the Archipelago of India; Goura, Tern.; Colombi!tocco, Vail!.; Col. coronata, Gm.; Sonn. 104; Enl.ll8; Tem.,Pigeons,pl. 1; Vieill., Galer. 197. Altogether of a slate-blue, with some chesnut and white on the wing; the head ornamented with a vertical tuft of long slender feathers. It is bred in the poultry yards at Java, &c., but does not propagate in Europe.(!) A third claims an alliance with them, from the long pende~t feathers which ornament its neck, like that of the Cock. It ~s the Pigeon de Nincombar; Col. nincombarica, L.; Enl. 491, and.'s of the most bt·illiant golden-green, with a white tail. Found 10 several parts of India.(2) The CoL UMBlE, Or Common Pigeons, have shorter feet than the preceding birds, (1) This large Crowned Pigeon constitutes the genus goura1 or LorHTJl1l of ,Vieill. Galer. pl. 197. (2) Species placed in this genus which are not1 perhaps, sufficiently deter· GALLINACEJE.. 361 but the same thin and flexible beak. Four wild species are found in Europe. Col. palumbus,. L.; ~e Ramier, Enl. 316. (The Cushat.) Is the largest, and mhabtts the forests, preferring those of Pines &c. It is ash-coloured, more or less blue; breast of a vinou~ red, and is distinguished by white spots on the sides of the neck and on the wing. Col. renas, L.; Le Colombin; Frisch, 139. (The Stock Dove.) A slate-grey, the breast vinous; sides of the neck a changeable green; somewhat smaller than the preceding, but has similar habits. Col. livia, Briss.; Biset or Pigeon de roche; Enl. 510. (The Rock Dove). Slate-grey; circumference of the neck a changeable green; a double black band on the wing; rump, white. This species is the parent stock of our Common Pigeon, and most probably of all our innumerable domestic races, in whose production ~he mixture of some neighbouring species may also have had some influence. Col. turtur, L.; Tourterelle; Enl. 394. (The Turtle Dove.) A fawn coloured mantle spotted with brown; neck bluish, with a spot on each side speckled with white and black. The smallest of the wild, European species. It inhabits the woods. Col. risoria, L.; Rieuse; Enl. 244; Frisch, 44; Tern. 44. (The Ring Dove.) Appears to be originally from Africa. It is of a flaxen colour, paler beneath; a black collar round the neck.( 1) mined: Columba cyanocepltala, Enl. 174, Vaill., 281; Tern. 3;-Col. montana, Edw. 119; Tern. 4;-Col. martinica, Enl. 141, 162; Vaill. 282; Tern. 5 and 6;Col, erythrotlwrax, Tern. 7 ;-Col. cruenta, Sonn. 20, 21; Tern. 8 and 9 ;-Col. ja· mai'censia, Tern. 10;-Co/. talpacoti, Tern. 12;-Col. paaaerina, Enl. 243, 2, Catesby, 26;-Col. minuta, Enl. 243, 1;-Col. hottentotta, Tern., Vaill. 283;-Col. cobocola, and Col. griseola, Spix, LXXV, 2. N.B. The C. paaserina and squamosa fonn the genus CHAMJEPELU. of S'Vainson; the C. cinerea, T., the genus PEnisTEnA, and the C. migratoria, the genus EOTOPISTEB. (1) Other Colurnb:e with a square or round tai1, Col. spadicea, Tern. 1;-Col. ~a, Enl. 164, Tern. 3 and 4; Voy de Freycin., 29, of which, according to Ternmmck, Col. pacifica is the rnale;-the Col. oceanique, Less. and Garn. Voy. de Duperre, is a neighbouring species;-Col. arcuatrix, Vaill. Afr.; Tern. 5;-C. armillarz8, Tem. 6;-C. littoralis, Sonn. 103; Tern. 17;-C. cltalcoptera, Tern. 8;-C. cristata, Tern. 9;-C, caribma, Tern. 10;-C.leucocephala, Catesb. 65; Tern. 13;-C. speciosa, En!. 213; Tern. 14;-C. corensis, Tern. 15;-C. guinea, Edw. 75; Vaill. Afr. 265; Tern. 16;-C. madagaacariensis, Enl. II; Vail!. Afr. 266; Tern. 17;-C. gymnoph· talmos, Tem. 18;-C. Francim, Sonner. 101; Tern. 19;-0. rubri-capilla, Sonner. 'Sr; Tem. 20;-C. elegans, Tern. 22;-C. cincta, Tem. 23;-C. rufina, Tern. 24;C, /eucuptera, Edw. 76; Tern. 25;-C. javanica, Enl. 177; Tern. 26; Sonner. 66;- VoL. I.-2 V |