BIRDS — COLUMBIDAE. 



eoi 



Sub-Family ZENAIDINAE. 



Ch. — Tarsi stout, lengthened ; always longer than the lateral toes, and entirely without feathers ; the tibial joint usually 

 denuded. Tarsus sometimes with hexagonal scales anteriorly. Tail feathers sometimes 14. 



This sub-family is readily distinguished from the preceding by the longer and more denuded 

 tarsi, the feet much better fitted for a terrestrial life. The following sections belong to it : 



Zenaideae. — Size moderate. Wings lengthened, acute ; primaries much longer than the 

 tertials ; secondaries short. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, but longer than the 

 lateral ; scutellate anteriorly. 



Melopelia. — Tail short, rounded ; orbits naked. 



Zenaeda. — Tail short, rounded ; orbits feathered. 



Zenaidxjba. — Tail excessively lengthened, cuneate, of fourteen feathers ; orbits naked. 

 Chamaepelieae. — Size very small. Secondaries lengthened. Tertials nearly as long as 

 primaries. Primaries dark chestnut internally. 



Chemaepelia. — Tail short, rounded. 



Scardafella. — Tail very long, cuneate. 

 Starnoenadeae. — Legs very stout ; tarsi decidedly longer than the middle toe, covered ante- 

 riorly with small hexagonal scales or transverse scutellae. Wings short, very broad, and much 

 rounded. Tail short, very broad. 



Starnoenas. — Legs very stout ; tarsi covered with hexagonal scales. 

 Geotrygon. — Legs moderate ; tarsi covered with transverse scutellae anteriorly. 



Comparative measurements of species. 



July 1, 1838. 



76 b 



