460 BIRDS OF INDIA 



The sub-famil}^ Piilopodince, or Green Doves, arc very closel}'- 

 allied structurally to the Carpophagina, the bill being much as in 

 that group, slender and somewhat lengthened, and the chin 

 advancing far forwards beneath the lower mandible ; but they have 

 the toes lengthened, somewhat more slender, with the soles not 

 quite so broad ; and they are much smaller, many of them indeed 

 quite diminutive. The wings and tail too are a trifle shorter. In 

 some, the first primary is abruptly narrowed {Ptilojjodece, Bon.), in 

 others {Chrysomets, Bon.) not so. They have very brilliant but not 

 metallic coloring, emerald green being the prevalent color, 

 variously adorned with carmine, lake, bright yellow, &c. The 

 tail consists usually of fourteen feathers, but in some only of 

 twelve ; in one genus, otherwise very closely allied, Ihoiiarsitreron, 

 Bonap., of sixteen ; and Blyth states that one is said to have 

 only ten rectrices. They chiefly inhabit the tropical Oceanic 

 region, diminishing in number in the Malayan Isles, and only 

 one species occurring in the Southernmost [)ortion of the Malayan 

 Peninsula, viz., Ramphiculus jamhu. In the wild state they 

 live, it is believed, entirely on fruit, but in confinement some 

 will eat U'nhusked, and even boiled rice. 



The ^Vi\i-i2iVLn\j Alectroenadince, Bonaparte, are from Madagascar, 

 the Mauritius, and the Seycheile islands. They are somewhat 

 larger, of black and red plumage, and, says Bonaparte, exhibit 

 an analogy with Dasyptili and Caloptorhyncld among the Parrots. 

 Blyth says that they appear to be Ground-pigeons of the 

 frugivorous type. 



Fam. CoLUMBiDiE, Bonaparte. 



Bill horny at the apex only ; tail, in almost all, of twelve 

 feathers ; gape not so wide as in the last family ; tarsus lengthened ; 

 feet more fitted for walking on the ground. 



This family comprises the Pigeons and Doves, ordinarily so 

 called, which feed chiefly on grains, often on the shoots and buds 

 of certain plants, and a few partially on fruit. They differ 

 from the preceding family by their more terrestrial habits, for 

 which their more lengthened tarsus and narrow toes fit them. They 

 are of more dull anH sombre colours, various shades of dark-blue. 



