COLUIMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — ZEN AIDUKA. 5^2 



Length of male, 17.00; wing, 8.50; tail, 8.40. 



Hab. North America to High Central Plains. Straggles westward to "West Humboldt 

 Mountains, and the vicinity of Puget's Sound. 



The account of the birds of the Western United States would not be com- 

 plete without the introduction of the passenger jjigeon, which, although 

 never known in such flocks as have rendered it so conspicuous in the East, 

 is yet met with in small numl lers along the northern boundary of the United 

 States to Puget's Sound. With its habits every one is familiar, — the vast 

 hosts in wliich it formerly appeared, its roosts in large forests, where huge 

 trees are broken down liy the weight of the clustering masses, the devasta-' 

 tion it sometimes causes, and the varied modes in which its capture is 

 accom[>lished. It is strictly confined to North America, the only record 

 of its occurrence elsewhere beim; in Cuba. 



SuB-F.uiiLY ZENAIDINyE. 



Char. Tarsi stout, lengthened ; always lunger than the lateral toes, and 

 entirely witliout feathers ; the tibial joint usually denuded. Tarsus some- 

 times ^\■ith hexagonal scales anteriorly. Tail feathers sometimes fourteen. 



Genus ZENAIDURA, linx.iP.vRTE. 



Ze.nakhira, Bojaparte, Consp. Av. II. 18.")4, 84. (Type, Colmnba CaroUnensis, L. ) 

 Pa-issura, Cabaxis, Jour, fiir Orn. IV. 1856, 111. 



Gen. Cii.\k. Bill weak, Ijlack ; ciilmm from frontal feathers, about one third the head 

 above. Tarsus not ([uite as long as middle toe and claw, but considerably longer than the 



Z. Oirolhienais. 



