OiiDER EASOllES. 



Char. Bill not longer than tlie head ; the terminal iiortion more or less 

 vaulted, hard, witli or without a soft skin intervening between it and the 

 head. Nostrils with an overlapping fleshy or leathery scale or valve ex- 

 tending over their upper edge (except in some tropical families). 



Though there are many points of resemblance between the pigeons and 

 gallinaceous birds, the differences are still so great that they shoidd probaljly 

 constitute different orders, representing each other in the two sub-classes of 

 birds formed by Bonaparte, viz. the Altriccs, or those whicli feed tlieir young 

 in the nest, and the Prcemccs, or those whose young run about as soon as 

 hatched. 



Still, as many tropical pigeons are closely similar to the Gallinte (though 

 probably none are really Puisorcs, or scratchers), and as tlie di\'isions of 

 Altriccs and Praxoccs present still greater difficulties among the herons, 

 cranes, and some aquatic families, I retain this as a convenient though 

 unnatural grouping. The Coltonhcc have some aflinity to the parrots and 

 cuckoos, and should perhaps be put among Inscssorcs. 



SuB-Or>DER COLUMByE, The Pigeoks. 



Chak. The liasal ]iortion of the bill covered l)y a soft skin, in wLicb 

 are situated the nostrils, overhung by an incumbent fleshy valve, the apical 

 portion hard and convex. The hind toe on the same level with the rest ; 

 the anterior toe without membrane at the base. Tarsi more or less naked ; 

 covered laterally and behind with hexagonal scales. 



Family COLUMBID^. 



Char. Bill horny at tip. Tail feathers twelve, occasionally fourteen. 

 Head iincrested. 



