SUBFAMILIES. 



When we come to consider the subfamilies into which our Indian 

 Pigeons are divided, we find that the only difference between the classi- 

 fication of Salvadori and Blanford, is that the former adds two sub- 

 famiUes, i.e. the Macropygiinae and Turturinae. The first subfamily 

 Salvadori gives as one of his family Columbidae, and the latter as a sub- 

 family of his family Peristeridae, whereas Blanford unites both in one 

 subfamily Columbinae. This shows well how very artificial the distinc- 

 tions are upon which naturalists rely in dividing Pigeons into famiHes and 

 subfamilies, for the genus Macropygia is far more closely allied in habits, 

 plumage, shape, and everything else to the Doves than to the Pigeons. 

 As Blanford says, " Even the subfamilies of the Pigeons and Doves 

 are founded on distinctions, several of which are not usually regarded 

 as more than generic. It is rather in deference to the usual practice 

 than from conviction of their real existence that some of the following 

 subfamilies are adopted." 



For the sportsman and the field-naturalist, the divisions adopted 

 by Blanford are very convenient, and there is no scientific reason 

 against their adoption, even if in every case there is no very scientific 

 reason m their favom*. I therefore follow Blanford, and accept his 

 six subfamilies, as given in the fourth volume of the Avifauna of 

 British India. 



Key to the Svhfamilies. 



A. Tail of fourteen feathers : 



a. No ambiens muscle present : 



a' Oil-gland present ... ... Treroninae. 



b' Oil-gland absent ... ... ... Geopeliinae. 



b. Ambiens muscle present ... ... ... ... Carpophaginae. 



B. Tail of twelve feathers : 



c. Ambiens and oil-gland present ; no caeca : 



c' Tarsus longer than middle toe ... ... ... Calaenadinae. 



d' Tarsus moderate ... ... ... ... Phabinae. 



d. Ambiens, oU-gland, and caeca present ... ... Columbinae. 



The above scientific key, relying as it does almost entirely on 

 anatomic characteristics, may present some difficulties to the sportsman, 



B 2 



