38 Mr, C, H. B, Grant on a CoUection of 



[Irides yellow, bordered exteriorly with red ; bare skin 

 round eyes red ; bill dark brown or black, nostrils grey ; 

 legs and toes pinkish flesh. Tolerably common.] 



In naming these birds I have examined the whole series 

 it) the National collection, and have come to the conclusion 

 that there are only two races of Columha guinea. I have 

 upheld C. g. longipennis Eeichenow, as the east African 

 birds are somewhat larger than the west African, though 

 the differences are very slight. 



Erlanger, in the J. £. O. 1905, p. 112, compares the Guinea 

 Pigeons from eastern, western, and southern Africa, and 

 finds that the eastern and southern specimens differ from 

 the north-eastern and western in the darker grey coloration, 

 and furthermore the lower back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts are the same colour as the belly ; he appears to 

 place C. g. longipennis and C. g. u/iehensis as synonyms of 

 C. g. 'phaionota. 



I fail to understand what he means, and cannot see any 

 difference in this respect between the western and eastern 

 birds ; the south African race C g. phoionota G. R. Gray 

 (List B. Brit. Mus. pt. iv. 1856, p. 32 : South Africa) is 

 undoubtedly quite distinct. 



The two races are as follows : — 



COLUMBA GUINEA GUINEA Liuu. 



Colmnha guinea Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. i. 176G, p. 282 : 

 Guinea, ex Edwards. 



On the average smaller. Wing-measurement : 231- 

 212 mm. 



Wing: Gambia, 231-218 mm. (not sexed). Gold Coast, 

 c? 212 mm. ; J 220 mm, Niger, 222 mm. (not sexed). 



COLUMBA GUINEA LONGIPENNIS Rcichw. 



On the average larger. Wing-measurement (both sexes) : 

 24:-214 mm.. 



Wing : Abyssinia, ^ 245-228 mm., ? 237 mm. ; Somali, 

 234) mm. (not sexed). Sudan, $ 219 mm. East Africa, 

 $ 238-.221mm.; % 230-214 mm, Kilimanjaro, $ 223 mm.; 



