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NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus COLUMBA, Linn^us. 



Columha, Linn^us, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Type, Columba livia, L.) 



Gen. Char. Bill stout and rather short ; culmen from the base of the feathers about 

 two fifths the head. Lateral toes and claws about equal, reaching nearly to the base of 

 the middle claw ; the claws rather long, and not much curved. Tail rather short, rounded, 

 or nearly even; as long as from the carpal joint to the end of secondaries in the closed 

 wing. Second and third quills longest. 



The geuus Cohimha, as characterized above, includes the C. livia, or domestic 



Pigeon, the differences be- 



tween it and the American 

 forms being very slight. 

 Reichenbach and Bona- 

 parte separate the North 

 American birds from Co- 

 lumha, under the name of 

 Chlorcenas, while C. leuco- 

 cephala and a near ally 

 of the West Indies ((7. 

 corensis) have been placed 

 in the subgenus Patagi- 

 cenas, Eeichenbach. 



The variations of form 

 among the numerous 

 American members of 



Columba fasciata. 



Columha are more with the species, however, than with groups, and withal 

 are so exceedingly slight that an attempt at subdividing the genus is scarcely 

 justifiable. They may be arranged by the style of coloration as follows. 

 None of the American sjjecies have the forepart of the neck metallic, as in 

 the European species, or Cohimha proper, as restricted, and in which these 

 metallic feathers have the fibres loose and blended, instead of being com- 

 pact ; the feathers also have a well-defined squamate arrangement in nearly 

 or quite all the American Columhce. 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Tail with a broad terminal band abruptly lighter in color than the basal 

 portion, and with a more or less well-defined blackish band across the middle. 

 Nape with metallic reflections. 



a. A narrow nuchal band of white ; the metallic feathers beneath this, with 

 their outlines distinct, producing a squamate appearance. 



1. C. fasciata. Blackish band across the middle of the tail narrow, 

 and badly defined, and concealed by the coverts ; terminal portion of 

 the tail much lighter than the basal part. Bill yellow ; crissum whitish; 



