262 COLUMBA PALUMBUS. 



imbricated feathers of the neck bright green, some of the late- 

 ral on each side cream-coloured ; under them is a broad zone 

 of purplish. The fore part of the back and the upper surface 

 of the wings are greyish-blue, tinged with brown. The alula, 

 primary coverts and primary quills, are greyish-black, the outer 

 edges of the latter white. There is a large patch of white on 

 the wing, extending from the flexure to the four outer secondary 

 coverts. The middle and hind part of the back light greyish- 

 blue, the tail-coverts darker. The tail is dull greyish-blue at 

 the base, lighter in the middle, greyish-black at the end ; its 

 lower surface is greyish-black, with a medial band of bluish- 

 grey. The lower part of the neck anteriorly is brownish-purple, 

 that colour on the breast and sides gradually fading into light 

 greyish- blue, which is the colour of the feathers on the legs and 

 under the tail, as well as of the lower wing-coverts and axil- 

 laries. The downy part of the plumage is greyish- white. 



Length to end of tail l7i inches ; extent of wings 30 ; wing 

 from flexure lOi ; tail 7 ; bill along the back 1, along the edge 

 of lower mandible 1 /^ ; tarsus 1 ^^ ; first toe ^-^ , its claw -{^ ; 

 second toe \\^ its claw ^^ ; third toe l/^, its claw j\ ; fourth 

 toe ij, its claw 4 J twelfths. 



The dimensions of another individual were : — Length to end 

 of tail 18 inches ; extent of wings 31 ; wing from flexure 10 ; 

 longest quill 7i ; tail 6i ; bill along the back \\^ along the 

 edge of lower mandible 1^^^ ; tarsus If ; middle toe and claw 

 If. (Esophagus 6 inches long ; gizzard 2 ; intestine 7 feet, the 

 two small coeca 2 inches from the extremity. 



Female. — The female differs very little from the male in ex- 

 ternal appearance, the colours being merely a little duller, the 

 quills and dark parts of the tail tinged with brown. Length 

 174 inches, extent of wings 30. 



Variations. — I have not met with any remarkable variations 

 of colouring in this species. The tints of the plumage undergo 

 little change from the period of the moult, until it drops off. 

 New feathers may be seen on this bird at all seasons, excepting 

 in the middle of winter, shewing that in it, as in the grouse 



