280 Dr Heineken on the Birds of Madeira^ 



sation for their want of novelty ; and circumscribed means of 

 information as an excuse for my ignorance. 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



C. Heineken, M. D. 

 FuNCHAL, Madeira^ 25th April 1829. 



Columba 



Brownish ash ; head, neck, breast, vent and rump, ash ; 

 neck imbricated, and together with shoulders and breast iri- 

 descent ; belly vinous ; wing and tail feathers brown black, 

 the latter with a broad blue ash bar one-third from the tips, 

 which are black ; the outer web of the 2d, 3d, and 4th pri- 

 mary of the former, edged with white ; bill red, tipped with 

 black ; nails black ; legs red, feathered anteriorly a little be- 

 low the knee; iris pale straw colour; length 19 inches; tar- 

 sus li inch. (Adult male in the spring.) 



Ash ; head, neck, belly, and rump blue ash ; neck only irides- 

 cent and imbricated : breast and shoulders vinous ; length 18 

 inches ; tarsus 1 J inch. (Adult female in the spring.) 



General Characters. 



Those of Section B, {Columhas antarctopodice) of Wagler. 

 Tarsus and middle toe (measuring the nail) equal ; the former 

 feathered about one-third anteriorly ; tail of twelve feathers, 

 6J inches long (in the female) and slightly rounded ; gape 

 (female) 14 lines ; imbricated feathers dense, rounded, and 

 of a pearly colour ; more conspicuous in the female than in 

 the male; weight about 18 ounces. 



I am almost afraid to hazard either a specific name or a 

 nobis to this pigeon ; the genus is so extensive, and I have so 

 little practical knowledge of it. I cannot, however, reconcile 

 it with any species given by Wagler in his Systema Avium ; 

 and should it prove to be hitherto undescribed would pro- 

 pose its provincial name " Trocaz" as a specific designation. 

 It is found in the most wooded and unfrequented parts of the 

 island, and is so shy and difficult to get at, that I can learn 

 but little of its habits. The Palumbus (which is much more 

 rare here) is occasionally seen at the same drinking spots with 

 it ; but there is not the slightest reason to suspect that they 



