436 CLASS x\i. 



Modem writers, especially Swainson and Gould, have divided 

 this lai'ge genus into many genera, which, however, in part pass 

 into one another, or sometimes are founded on insufficient charac- 

 ters; most of them can scarcely be regarded as sub-genera. We 

 present below a compressed view of these divisions, but without 

 recognising on that account an equal importance in all of them, or 

 approving the names, frequently barbax'ous, by which they have 

 been denoted. 



1* Tarsi reticulate, with scales hexagonal. 



Megapelia Kaup, nob., Lophyrus Vieill., Goura Fleming, Gray, 

 Ptilojohyrus Swains. Tarsi strong, elongate. Wings short, sub- 

 concave, rounded, with fourth, fifth, and sixth quills longest of all. 

 Head ornamented with a compressed crest, formed of decomposed 

 feathers. (These birds are the tallest of this family, except Didus.) 



Sp. Colwrriba coronata L., Buff. PL enl. ii8, Sonnebat Voyage a la Nouv. 

 Guinee, PI. 104, Less. Ornith. PI. 80, fig. 2, Diet. univ. d'Hist. naf., Ois. 

 PI. 6 A; the goura or crested jngeon; nearly of the size of a turkey-hen; 

 greyish -blue, with a white band surrounded by red-brown across the wings. 

 Some years ago a second species was discovered of darker colour and with 

 a light grey band on the wings, in which the feathers of the crest end in 

 a triangular expansion, like those on the head of the common peacock: 

 Columba Stuersii Temm. Mus. L. B., Lophyrus Victoria Fraser, Proceed. 

 Zool. Soc, 1844, p. 136, Gray Gen. of Birds, cxx. Both species are from 

 New Guinea; they build their nests in trees, but seek their food on the 

 ground. 



Note. — Alectryopelia \_Verrulia (quid?) Fleming], Colo mhi gal line VAihh. 

 Head denuded at the base of bill, with throat carunculate. Uncertain 

 genus. Comp. Gray Gen. of Birds, i. Pref. p. viii. 



Sp. Columba carunculata Temm., Vaill. Ols. d'Afrique, PI. 278, Temm. 

 Pigeons, PI. 2. 



Perdicopelia, Starnccnas (quid?) Bonap. Head not crested. 

 Tarsi longer than middle toe. Wings with fourth quill longest. 

 Tail short, rounded. 



Sp. Columha cyanocephala L., Buff. PI. enl. 174; Jamaica ;—(7oZ2(OT&a /re- 

 nata, TscHUDi Faun. Peruan., Av. Tab. 27. 



tt Tarsi covered on the anterior sv,rface loith a single row of scutes. 



A. Lateral toes subequal, or inner somewhat longer. 

 Calcenas Gray, Geophilus Selby. Bill curved. Tarsi strong. 

 Toes and claws long. Tail short, even. Wings with third quill 

 longest. 



