124 CAHINAT.H. 



Family COLUMBID^. 



The type family. There is uo production of the angle of the 

 mandible ; the cranial rostrum is not deeply hooked at the ex- 

 tremity ; aud most of the species are capable of strong flight, the 

 sternum having a very prominent carina, and the coracoidal grooves 

 deep and approximated in the middle line. 



This family is taken to include all the existing Pigeons with the 

 exception of Diclunculus. 



Genus COLUMBA, Linn.' 



The type genus. In the case of extinct species this term must be 

 used in a wider sense than in recent zoology. 



CTotumba libia, Gmelin ^ 



Hah. Europe. 



A. 73 a. The right metacarpus ; from the peat of Newport, Mon- 

 mouthshire. This specimen agrees in every respect with 

 the corresponding bone of a recent skeleton in the 

 Museum, Presented by J, E. Lee, Esq., 1885. 



2112A^. A series of associated bones belonging to a slightly immature 

 individual of this or an allied species ; from the Pleistocene 

 of Neschers, France. The specimens include the hinder 

 portion of the cranium, the pelvis and sacrum, the left 

 humerus, a radius, both femora, the right tibio-tarsus, and 

 the right tarso-metatarsus. 



Croizet Collection. Pwchased, 1848. 



Columba melitensis, Lydekker, n. sp. 



Founded upon the coracoid, which is somewhat larger than that 

 of C. livia, and differs by the smaller and narrower head, and the 

 more slender proximal part of the shaft ; the anterior border of the 

 glenoid cavity forming a longer and sharper ridge, separated by a 

 much deeper groove from the anterior face of the shaft. 



Hub. Malta. 



1 Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 282 (1760). 



2 Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 769 (1788). 



