GROUND DOVE. 635 



about the year 1798, while he was passing through New 

 Jersey, near Newark, the flocks continued to pass for at 

 least two hours without cessation ; and he learnt from the 

 neighbouring inhabitants, that, in descending upon a large 

 pond to drink, those in the rear alighting on the backs of 

 the first that arrived (in the usual order of their move- 

 ments on land to feed), pressed them beneath the surface, 

 so that tens of thousands were thus drowned. They 

 were likewise killed in great numbers at the roost with 

 clubs. 



The Wild or Passenger Pigeon is about IG inches long, and 24 in 

 alar extent. The bill black. Iris fiery orange. Legs and feet lake 

 red. Lower part and sides of the neck with a metallic chano-eable hue 

 of gold, green, and purplish crimson, the last color prevalent. 

 Scapular region spotted with a few black blotches. Quill-feathers 

 dusky. — Female somewhat shorter, the changeable cervical spot 

 smaller and less brilliant. 



Subgenus. — Goura. (Bonap.) 



The BILL slender, flexible, scarcely turgid at tip ; the upper man- 

 dible furrowed at the sides. Nostrils small, orbicular, situated in 

 the furrow. Tarsi rather long. Wings short, rounded, and concave, 

 the 1st primary shorter than the 5th, the 3d longest. — Tail of 12 

 feathers. 



These birds make some approaches to the Gallinaceous order. The 

 greater number dwell on the ground, where they breed. The young 

 of some of the species are said even to run as soon as hatched, and 

 seek out their own sustenance. 



GROUND DOVE. 



(Columba passerina, Wilson, vi. p. 1-5. pi. 46. fig. 2. &3. [male and 

 female.] Phil. Museum, No.^ 



Sp. Charact. — The scapulars with dark spots; tail rounded, lateral 

 feathers black, tipped and edged with white ; bill black at tip, 

 and with the feet yellow. 



