320 PIGEONS. 



slender than the stock-dove, from which it may be at once distinguished by 

 the white colour of the lower part of the back, and the two distinct bands ot 

 leaden black across the wings. 



Snb-Faviily III. 

 THE GROUND PIGEONS. GOURIN/E. 



General Characteristics.— Bill moderate, more or less slender, straight, with the 

 apical portion generally strong and vaulted ; the wings moderate and pointed ; the 

 tail moderate and rounded on the sides; the tarsi as long as or longer than the 

 middle toe, and robust ; the toes long, and margined on their sides with a mem- 

 brane, and the hind toe usually long and slender ; the claws short and curved. 



These handsome birds are found in the large islands of the 

 Indian Archipelago and in New Guinea. They live in the dense 

 forests, and feed upon berries, seeds, and grains, which they seek 

 for on the ground. The nest is formed upon a tree. The female 

 lays two eggs for each sitting. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Crowned Pigfeon {Gojira coronatd). This splendid pigeon is in- 

 disputably the most conspicuous of its tribe, its great size and splendid crest 

 rendering it a most striking object even at a considerable distance. So large 

 and so un-pigeonlike is this bird, that few, on first seeing it, would be likely to 

 recognize its relationship to the rest of the race. It is a native of Java, New 

 Guinea, and Japan. In the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park there 

 are several of these birds, whose manners are very curious and interesting. 

 Their walk is quite of a royal character, stately and majestic, and well acc6rd- 

 ing with the beautiful feathered crown which they wear upon their heads. The 

 crest seems always to be held expanded. They have the habit of sunning 

 themselves upon the hot paveinent of their prison by lying on one side, laying 

 the head flat on the ground, tucking the lower wing under them, and spreading 

 the other over their bodies, so as to form a very shallow tent, each quill-fcather 

 being separated from its neighbour, and radiating around the body. Some- 

 times the bird varies this attitude by stretchmg the other wing to its full length, 

 and holding it from the ground at an angle of twenty degrees or so, as if to 

 take advantage of every sunbeam and waft of air. While lying in this unique 

 attitude, it inight easily pass at a distance for a moss-covered stone, a heap of 

 withered leaves, or a rugged tree-stump with one broken branch projecting from 

 the side: no one would think of taking it for a bird.— Rkv. J. G. Wood. 



The Bronze-winged Pigeon {Phaps chalcopioa)^ celebrated for the 

 brilliant metallic lustre of its wings, as well as for the excellence of its flesh, 

 is an inhabitant of Australia, where its amazing powers of flight enable it to 

 pass in an incredibly short space of time over a great expanse of country. It 



