Columbidse of the Ethiopian Region. 297 



to the group of Collared Turtle Doves represented in Europe 

 by T. risorius and our common cage-bird T. roseogriseus. The 

 members of this group^ from their somewhat general similar 

 appearance^ have been the cause of much confusion in our 

 nomenclature^ yet each of these species has a well-marked 

 character by which they may be readily distinguished, and 

 cannot, I think, be regarded as mere local races. 



Key to the Species. 



a. With some grey on the wings ; wing-coverts 



never chestnut nor vinous brown. 



a}. Wings mottled ; many of the scapulars and 



wing-coverts with their centres darker than 



their edges ; collar confined to the sides of 



the neck Group 1. TuRTURES. 



a^. Tail-feathers with broad white ends ; under 

 tail-coverts white. 

 a'. Crown grey ; upper parts shaded with 



grey 20. communis. 



b*. Entire head sandy brown ; upper parts 



not shaded with grey 21. isabellinus. 



fc*. Tail-feathers with narrower white ends ; 

 under tail-coverts grey. 

 ¥. Lower breast vinous, fading apparently 

 into white on the vent ; under tail- 

 coverts pale grey 22. erythrocephalus. 



c* . Lower breast, vent, and under tail-coverts 



leaden grey 23. lugens. 



6*. Wings not mottled by dark centres to any of 

 the feathers ; collar not confined to the sides 

 of the neck. 

 h^. With a well-marked black collar round the 



back and sides of the neck Group 2. Streptopelije. 



6* , With no black feathers in front of the eye. 

 i*. Bill larger ; with grey on the head ; 

 under wing-coverts slaty or leaden 

 grey ; under surface of the quills uni- 

 form dark brown Section A. 



6'. Entire abdomen and under tail- 

 coverts deep leaden grey ; chest of 



a deeper vinous shade 24. semitorquattM. 



c'. Centre of the abdomen and vent 

 white ; remainder of the abdomen 



