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The Pigeons of the Gambia.



as that above, and the under-surface of the flights is grey-brown

each feather being tipped with sepia. The upper tail-coverts are

like the back, a few of the lowest ones being tipped with darker

brown.


The tail has the upper surface bluish-grey broadly tipped with

black, except the central pair of rectrices, which are dark grey-brown

tipped with black, and the outer pair (one on each side) in which the

proximal halves of the outer webs are white. The under-surface of

the tail is black, the outer feather on each side being marked as above

with wdiite.


The chest and under parts are pale vinous, fading into white

on the belly and under tail-coverts.


Irides, dark brown ; eyelids, slate-grey. Bill brown washed

with purple. Legs purplish-brown.


Cape Dove (TEna capensis).


Golumba capensis. Linn., 1766 (Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, Hist.


Madagascar Ois., Plate 188).


Bange: Tropical Africa, Arabia, Madagascar (H. L.)


This well-known, long-tailed small Dove is common in the

Gambia, though not all are permanent residents, for during the rainy

season one sees comparatively few r about. Prom November to June

they are plentiful, and are found either in pairs or (at the beginning

of the season) in small parties—one cock and two or three hens.

They frequent the open country, especially the cleared, cultivated

fields round the towns, and find their food (millet-grains, grass and

other seeds) on the ground. Here they walk, or rather run, about

very rapidly, w’hile in the air their flight is very fast and arrow T -like—

in fact when on the wing they look like big arrow r -heads. They are

not easily caught, but do very well in captivity, and have been bred,

but with confinement all their sprightliness disappears and they

become dull, over-greedy birds, disinclined to move except to the

food-tray.


The Mandingo name is “ Moro Pura,” the “ Mahomedan


Dove.”


Description .—The sexes differ in plumage. In the male the

front of the head, the chin, throat and upper breast are black, the



