COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — COLTOIBA. 



505 



Sub-Family COLUMBIN.E. 



Char. Tarsi, stout, short, with transverse scutellffi anteriorly ; feathered 

 for the basal third above, but not at all behind. Toes lengtliened, the 

 lateral decidedly longer than the tarsus. Wings lengthened and pointed. 

 Size large. Tail feathers twelve. (Baird.) 



Genus COLUMBA, Link^us. 



Columha, LiNX.Ens, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Type, Columba livia, L., the domestic pigeon.) 



Gen. Char. Bill .stout and rather short ; eulmen from the base of the feathers about 

 two fifths the head. Lateral toes and claws about equal, reaching nearly to the base of 



C. /asciata. 



the middle claw ; the claws rather long and not much curved. Tail ratlior short, riiniidoil, 

 or nearly even ; as long as from the carpal joint to the end of secondaries in the closed 

 winrf. Second and third quills longest. (Baird.) 



This genus, and several closely allied to it, have numerous representatives 

 scattered in nearly all parts of the world, especially in the tropics. Our 

 species is the only one, however, found in temperate North America, except 

 two which straggle to Te.xas and Florida. The Eastern svild pigeon belongs 

 to a different genus {Uctopisfcs), with a very small head, and long, pointed 

 tail. That species has been obtained near the Pacific Coast, at latitude 49', 

 and may yet be found to wander to California. 

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