24 MANUAL OF PHILIPPINE BIRDS. 
are greatly graduated. A few era are terrestrial, but most of them 
are more or less arboreal and™generally capable of strong, swift, and 
sustained flight. Their food is largely grain and small seeds; the larger 
species feed on the fruits of trees, rarely on the leaves. The nest is a 
slight structure of twigs placed on the ground, in a shrub, or in a tall tree. 
Eggs one or two, pure white or slightly cream-colored; in shape rather 
long, equal ended, ovals. 
Suborder COLUMB.%. 
Characters same as those given for the Order. 
Families. 
a’. Soles very broad; tarsus stout, more or less feathered, and generally shorter 
than middle toe without claw. 
b'. Nostril coverings flat or but slightly swollen........2..2-...... Treronide (p. 24) 
6. Nostril coverings swollen forming a grape-seed shaped prominence on each 
SIGe) OfvCUlMOM 22.2 one iene neater terete eee OOM PI Oem 
a*. Soles not greatly expanded on sides of toes; tarsus more slender, unfeathered, 
and longer than middle toe without claw-.............-......-- Peristeride (p. 54) 
Family TRERONIDZ. 
Soles very broad; tarsus stout, more or less feathered; bill stout or 
large; gape very wide in some; nostril covering flat or somewhat swollen ; 
tail moderate in length, nearly square ; medium to large sized species. 
Subfamilies. 
a'. Under tail-coverts long, their tips reaching well beyond toes; size generally 
smaller; length, 340 mm. or less. 
b'. First primary not attenuated; third primary scooped on middle of inner 
web, except in Phapitreron which has mostly brown plumage. 
Treronine (p. 24) 
b°, First primary abruptly attenuated, except in Spilotreron which has mostly 
green plumage; third primary normal............---.--.......-- Ptilopodine (p. 36) 
a’. Under tail-coverts moderate, their tips reaching little if any beyond toes; 
size generally larger; length, 360 mm. or more...._..... Muscadivorine (p. 42) 
Subfamily TRERONIN 2. 
Genera. 
a, General color green or greenish yellow; rectrices fourteen, under coverts usually 
equal to or longer than shortest rectrix; third primary deeply scooped near 
middle of inner web. 
b'. Horny nail of bill reaching feathers of forehead...................... Treron (p. 25) 
b*. Horny nail of bill not reaching feathers of forehead. 
c'. Tail slightly graduated; under tail-coverts broadly streaked, the shafts 
De Cee era ip cover S JAN Sud cua duae Nace Sion RM s eenue Se cone Sphenocercus (p. 26) 
c?. Tail square; under tail-coverts not streaked, the shafts of the same color 
SRS) UNG WI ee Pa a caer Osmotreron (p. 26) 
a?. General color brown; rectrices twelve, under coverts shorter than shortest 
rectrix; third primary not scooped... on. oes pete esate Phapitreron (p. 29) 
