36 



UIKD GALLKRV. 



they arc luitclicd. The eggs*, three to five iu uumbei', are double- 

 spottefl with dark purplish-hrowii aud lilac, and laid iu a slight 

 hollow iu the ground lined with dry grass. Hemipodes are entirely 

 birds of tlie Old World, aud are distributed over Africa, Madagascar, 

 India, and China, and extend thi'oughout the Malayan Archipelago to 

 Australia. 



The Aiulahisian liemipodc {Titrn'Lr sijlvutica) 1,199) inhabits Southern 

 Europe and North Africa, aud is said to have been met with on three 

 occasions in the South of Eugland. Like the rest of its allies, it is 

 solitary iu its habits, frequcniiug dry grassy plains and localities covered 

 Mith low trees aud dense bushes, where it is ditticult to flush, aud 

 generally escapes from danger liy running. 



\^ 'uses 

 li) &• JO. 1 



Order IV. COLUMlilFORMES. Pioeon-tribe. ■ 



The birds of this large order possess so characteristic a physiognomy 

 that they nuiy i)c easily recognised at the first glance. The bill is 

 rather slender aud weak, covered at the base with a soft, more or less 

 swollen membrane, in which the nostrils are situated. Some portion of 

 the plumage has almost always a metallic gloss, and many of the exotic 

 species are gorgeously coloured. The legs and toes in the typical Pigeon 

 are short and not adapted for scratching up the ground like those of the 

 (iame-Birds, and the legs arc never armed with spurs. 



All the species are niouoganious, and both sexes assist iu buildiug the 

 uest, which is a loosely constructed ci'adle of sticks. The eggs are pure 

 white and usually two in number, tlnjugli there are many species which 

 lay onl}' one. The young when hatched are blind aud naked, but after 

 a little time become clothed with hairy down. They remain in the uest 

 for many days and arc entirely dependent on the care of their parents, 

 who at first feed them with a milky Huid secreted by the crop and 

 afterwards with moistened food. 



Pigeons arc found all over the world, but are most uumcrous in the 

 Eastern Hemisphere, especially in the islands of the ludo-Pacific Ocean 

 and in Australia. 



About 450 species are kno«n, and are valuable to uum on account of 

 the excellent quality of their flesh. 



The species exhibited bring out very clearly three interesting- 

 points : — the evidence of adaptation to an arboreal or ground-dwelling 

 life, th(^ great contrast in size, and the wonderful range and variety of 

 coloration. 



