7 COLUMBIDAE 339 
scapulars are reddish-cinnamon. These Pigeons frequent bushy 
districts, feed on the ground on seeds and fruits, run fast, and 
fly swiftly for short distances. They have a mournful note, 
breed on low trees, and make a fairly compact nest of roots, 
grass, or twigs.  Chalcopelia afra inhabits Africa south of 
Abyssinia and Senegambia. It has olive-brown upper parts, 
with two black stripes across the lower back, and a few large 
spots of brilliant purple and green on the wing; the under 
parts are pinkish, and the inner webs of the primaries and 
their coverts bright rufous. C. chalcospilus, with the spots 
golden-green, 1s probably a variety. They inhabit bushy 
country in pairs, the flight, food, note, and nest being similar to 
those of Chalcophaps. Tympanistria bicolor is a similar but greyer 
bird, with the purple spots almost black and the lower parts 
white; if inhabits Southern Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros, 
and Fernando Po. The very long-tailed Oena capensis is pale 
brown above and white below, with black face and throat, grey 
crown, two black bands across the lower back, and steel-blue 
patches on the wings. The inner webs of the primaries and their 
coverts are cinnamon. ‘The female has a white face and throat. 
It is a bird of rough bushy country, which is seldom found in 
flocks, utters a deep plaintive note, and breeds in low trees. 
This species walks with the utmost rapidity, and feeds upon the 
ground on seeds of grasses and grain. It is found in tropical 
and Southern Africa, in Madagascar, and at Aden and Jeddah. 
Group (d@).—The most typical Peristerinae constitute a fourth 
section, usually with metallic wing-spots, restricted to America. 
Metriopelia melanoptera and M. aymara range from Ecuador and 
Peru respectively to Chili and the borders of Argentina. The 
former is greyish-brown above and vinaceous below, with black 
wings and tail, the latter has golden spots on the wing-coverts. 
They are found in small flocks in the valleys of the Andes, and 
in winter on the coast, being called by the natives “Tortola 
cordillerana,’ or “ Cordillera Dove.”  Peristera cinerea is bluish- 
grey in the male, with hghter under parts, black remiges and outer 
rectrices, some velvety black spots being very conspicuous on the 
wings and scapulars. The female is brown, with cinnamon wing- 
spots. This species ranges from South Mexico to Paraguay ; 
while P. geoffroyi, with white-tipped lateral tail-feathers and a 
grey breast, inhabits South-East Brazil; P. mondetowra, with 
