;i6 PIGEONS. 



sub-families, — the Tree Pigeons, the Pigeons proper, the Ground 

 Pigeons, the Toolh-billccl Pigeons, and the Dodos ; the last of 

 which, although existing up to a very recent period, are now, in 

 all probabilit}', extinct. 



Sub-Family I. 

 THE TREE PIGEONS. TRERONIN/E.* 



Gkneral Characteristics.— Bill short, with the ends of both mandibles vaulted 

 and of nearly equal thickness ; the tarsi very short and more or less feathered ; the 

 toes divided at the base, tiie inner much shorter than the outer, and the claws short 

 and curved. 



The birds to which the name of " Tree Pigeons " has been 

 given are distinguished by their generally short, stout bill, in 

 which the ridge of both mandibles is nearly equally arched, and 

 by their very short tarsi, which are usually clothed with feathers 

 for a greater or less distance below the heel. The inner front toe 

 is also shorter than the outer one. The shortness of the tarsi in 

 these birds indicates that they are but little adapted for walk- 

 ing on the ground ; consequently, in their habits they are pre- 

 eminently arboreal, passing nearly their whole time amid the 

 branches of trees, and feeding principally upon the fruits which 

 they find in such situations. They are confined to the warmer 

 parts of the eastern hemisphere, and the majority of the species 

 are inhabitants of Southern Asia and Australia ; a few other 

 species, however, are met with in Africa. 



They are more or less gregarious, according to the species. 

 When hunting for fruit, they are continually gliding about the 

 branches, like squirrels, and from the strength of their feet they 

 can hang over to seize a fruit and recover their position at once. 

 When perfectly quiet they are very difficult to detect, owing to 

 the similarity of their tints to those of the leaves. They nidifi- 

 cate on trees, making a loose nest of twigs. They all afford 

 excellent food, but their skin is very tough and thick, and ought 

 to be removed. 



Some species, as the Fruit Pigeons (Carpop/iagincr), are of very 

 large size, and adorned in many cases with rich and metallic 



* rpripuv, treron, timorous, shy. 



