400 COLUMB.^. 



for a greater or less distance below the heel. The 

 inner front toe is also shorter than the outer one. 

 The shortness of the tarsi in these birds indicates 

 that they are but little adapted for walking on the 

 ground ; consequently, in their habits they are pre- 

 eminently arboreal, passing nearly their whole time 

 amid the branches of trees, and feeding principally 

 upon the fruits which they find in such situations. 

 They are confined to the warmer parts of the 

 Eastern hemisphere, and the majority of the species 

 are inhabitants of Southern Asia and Australia ; a 

 few other species, however, are met with in Africa. 



One of the best known is — 



The Green-bellied Pigeon {Ptilwiopus porphyreun). 

 These showy birds are found principally in Malacca, 

 Celebes, the north-west coast of Australia, and the islands 

 of the Pacific Ocean. Their habits are peculiarly arboreal 

 and solitary, living entirely in the deej) forests, where 

 they are only discovered by their incessant and loud 

 cooing. The fruits of various trees form their food, espe- 

 cially that of the banyan. 



The type of the sub-family is — 



The Capped Tree-Pigeon {PtUonopus occipitalis)^ deli- 

 neated above. 



