AVES. 369 



nensis), a plain, but very pretty bird, frequently to be seen in the woods 

 and fields, and iike the turtle of Europe it is one of the first to announce 

 the advent of spring by its harmonious but rather melancholy cooings. 



Many other birds belong here, of the greater part of which little is 

 known. 



Sub-fam. 3. GourincB, or Ground Pigeons. Bill moderate, rather slender, 

 straight, apex strong ; wings moderate, pointed ; tail moderate, rounded ; 

 tarsi and feet rather long, robust. Size very various. 



Contains a large number of pigeons which live habitually on the ground. 

 They are most numerous in tropical countries, though a few species have 

 been discovered to inhabit the extreme southern limits of the United States 

 in summer. Of these the Zenaida dove {Zenaida amabilis) is one of the 

 most remarkable. It occasionally visits Florida, and is said to be very 

 gentle in its manners, and to possess a voice of remarkable softness. 



The little bird-like dove (Chamcepelia passerina) is another, which has 

 been observed in Florida, and more abundant than the preceding. It is a 

 very small species, and is often tamed. 



The two largest birds of the family of pigeons belong to this assemblage. 

 They are the crowned pigeon and the queen's pigeon {Goura coronata and 

 G. victoria), both of which are considerably larger than common fowls. 

 They are much alike in general appearance, having fine ashy blue plumage 

 and beautiful erect crests, and inhabit the large islands of the Indian 

 archipelago. 



Numerous other beautiful pigeons and doves belong here, which are 

 found in all warm countries. Goura cruenta [pi. 96, fig. 14) is an Indian 

 species. 



Sub-fam. 4. Didince, or Dodos. Bill longer than the head, much curved 

 towards the tip, which is hooked and acute ; tarsi short, robust ; feet 

 strong ; wings and tail unknown. Size large. 



This sub-family has been founded on one bird only, which is called " the 

 dodo" by some early voyagers to the island of Mauritius, which it formerly 

 inhabited. It is now supposed to be extinct, and no perfect specimen is 

 known to exist, though several fragments are preserved in European 

 museums. It is represented as having been a large bird, somewhat resem- 

 bling a turkey, and to have lived on the ground in the forests of palm trees, 

 on the fruits of which it subsisted. 



Order V. Gallin^e. 



This order consists of the common fowls, pheasants, grouse, turkeys, and 

 other birds of similar manners and character. They are invariably formed 

 essentially for living upon dry ground. Their food, with few exceptions, is 

 entirely vegetable, and their chief support is derived from the seeds and 

 grains of plants. Many of them eat also the green or leafy portions, and 

 are in this respect nearly peculiar among birds. Almost all of them have 

 large crops or craws, and extremely muscular and powerful gizzards. 



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