484 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



pigeons of New Guinea. These two last groups are elevated to 

 distinct family rank by Bonaparte. India possesses only one 

 representative of this family, belonging to the first sub-family. 



Sub-fam. PnAriNiE, Ground-doves. 



Tarsus much lengthened, not feathered; tail consisting of 

 twelve, fourteen, or sixteen feathers. 



The Ground-doves comprise a series of very beautiful small 

 Doves, many of them adorned with metallic hues, and of swift 

 flight. They are divided by Bonaparte into the Fliape^, 

 Chalcophapeoi and Geopelieoi. 



Chalcophapece, with twelve tail-feathers. 



The species belonging to this group have longer wings than the 

 others, and only twelve rcctrices, thej.two other divisions having 

 fourteen or sixteen ; and the birds composing it are more arboreal 

 in their habits. It consists only of a single genus. 



Gen. CiiALCOPHArs, Gould. 



Char. — Bill slender ; wings moderately long, 2nd and 3rd 

 quills nearly equal and longest ; tail rather short, rounded ; tarsus 

 moderately long, not feathered ; toes long, hind toe lengthened ; 

 claws moderately curved. 



These birds have rich glossy metallic green plumage, and a very 

 swift llight ; feed on the ground, but betake themselves to trees 

 for shelter. 



708. Chalcophaps indicus, Linnjeus. 



Columba, apud LiNNiiiUS — C. javanica, Gmelin. — C. super- 

 ciHaris, Wagleu — Jehdon, Cat. 291 — Blytii, Cat. liiO-— Ram 

 fjhughn, and Raj-gJmghu, Beug. — And I hella guwa, Tel. —Imperial 

 DovG of Sportsmen. 



The Bronze-avinged Dove. 



Descr. — Male, forehead white, continued as a supercilium over 

 the eye ; crown of the head and the middle of the neck ash-grey ; 

 back and wings shining dark emerald green, slightly glossed with 

 golden ; the feathers of tlie back distinct and scale-like ; two broad 



