360 AVES. 



covered with a cartilaginous scale, which even forms a bulge 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 musclej 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, whicti naturalists have attempted to divide into three sub- 

 genera, from the greater or less strength of the bill and the propjor- 

 tions of the feet. The 



Columbi-Gallines, Vaill. 



Approximate to the ordinary Gallinacese 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 Gallinaceas by the caruncles 

 and naked portions of skin that distinguish its head; it is the 

 Columba carunculata, Tem. pi. 11; Columbi-galUne, Vaill. 

 278. 



A second is at all events connected with them by its size, 

 which about equals that of the Turkey; it is the Crowned Pigeon 

 of the Archipelago of India; Goura, Tem. ; Colombihocco^ Vaill.; 

 Vol. coronata, Gm.; Sonn. 104; Enl. 118; Tem., Pigeons, pi. 

 l;Vieill., Galer. 197. Altogether of a slate-blue,, with some 

 chesnut and white on the wing; the head ftrnamented with a 

 vertical tuft of long slender feathers. It is bred in the poultry 

 yards at Java, Sec, but does not propagate in Furope.(l) 



A third claims an alliance with them, from the long pendent 

 feathers which ornament its neck, like that of the Cock. It is 

 the Pigeon de Nincomhar; Col. nincombarica, L.; Enl. 491, and is 

 of the most brilliant golden-green, with a white tail. Found in 

 several parts of India.(2) The 



CoLUMBiE,. 



Or Common Pigeons, have shorter feet than the preceding birds, 



(1) This large Crowiled Pigeon constitutes the genus goura, or Lophtrus of 

 Vieill. Galer. pi. 197. 



(2) Species placed in this genus which are not, perhaps, sufficiently deter- 



