24 MANUAL OF PHILIPPINE BIRDS. 



are greatl_y graduated. A few genera are terrestrial, but most of them 

 are more or less arboreal and generally capable of strong, swift, and 

 sustained flight. Their food is largely grain and small seeds; the larger 

 species feed on the fruits of trees, rarely on the leaves. The nest is a 

 slight structure of twigs placed on the ground, in a shrill), or in a tall tree. 

 Eggs one or two, pure white or slightly cream-colored ; in shape rather 

 long, eqiial ended, ovals. 



Suborder COLUMB.E. 



Cliaracters same as those given for the Order. 



Families. 



u\ Soles very broad; tarsus stout, more or less featliered. and j;viH>rully sliorter 

 than middle toe without claw. 



¥. Xostril coverings flat or but slightly swollen Treronidae (p. 24) 



if>-. Xostril coverings swollen forming a grape-seed shaped prominence on each 



side of culmen Columbidae (p. 51) 



a". Soles not greatly expanded on sides of toes; tarsus more slender, unfeathered. 

 and longer tlian middle toe without claw Peristeridae (p. 54) 



Family TRERONID^. 



Soles very broad; tarsus stout, more or less feathered; bill stout or 

 large; gape very wide in some; nostril covering fiat or somewhat swollen; 

 tail moderate in length, nearly square; medium to large sized species. 



Subfamilies. 



o\ I'nder tail-coverts long, their tips reaching well beyond toes; size generally 

 smaller; length, 340 mm. or less. 

 h\ First primary not attenuated; third primary scooped on middle of inner 

 web, except in Phapilreron which has mostly brown plumage. 



Treroninae (p. 24) 

 ?<-. First primary abruptly attenuated, except in Spilotreraii wliicli has mostly 



green plumage; third primary normal Ptilopodinae (p. .%) 



a'-. L'luler tail-coverts moderate, their tips reaching little if any beyond toes; 

 size generally larger; length, 360 mm. or more Muscadivorinae (p. 42) 



Subfamily TRERONIN.^. 



Genera. 



«'. Ceneral color green or greenish yellow; rectrices fourteen, under coverts usually 

 equal to or longer than shortest rectrix; third primary deeply scooped near 

 middle of inner web. 



h^. Horny nail of bill reaching feathers of forehead Treron (p. 25) 



b'-'. Ilorny nail of bill not reaching feathers of forehead. 



c\ Tail slightly graduated; under tail-coverts broadly streaked, the shafts 



black Sphenocercus (p. 26) 



c". Tail square; under tail-coverts not streaked, the shafts of tlie same color 



as the webs Osmotreron (p. 26) 



fl-. General color brown; rectrices twelve, under coverts sliorter than shortest 

 rectrix; third primary not scooped Phapitreron (p. 29) 



