COLUMBIDAE 339 



scapulars are reddish-cinnamon. These Pigeons frequent bushy 

 districts, feed on the ground on seeds and fruits, run fast, and 

 fly swiftly for short distances. They have a movirnful note, 

 breed on low trees, and make a fairly compact nest of roots, 

 grass, or twigs. Chalcopelia afra inhabits Africa south of 

 Abyssinia and Senegambia. It has olive -brown upper parts, 

 with two black stripes across the lower back, and a few large 

 spots of brilliant purple and green on the wing ; the under 

 parts are pinkish, and the inner w^ebs of the primaries and 

 their coverts bright rufous. C. chalcosjnlus, with the spots 

 golden -green, is probably a variety. They inhabit bushy 

 country in pairs, the flight, food, note, and nest being similar to 

 those of CIialcoj)haps. Tympanistria bicolor is a similar but greyer 

 bird, with the purple spots almost black and the lower parts 

 white ; it inhabits Southern Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros, 

 and Fernando Po. The very long-tailed Oena capensis is pale 

 brown above and white below, with black face and throat, grey 

 crown, two black bands across the lower back, and steel-blue 

 patches on the wings. The inner webs of the primaries and their 

 coverts are cinnamon. The female has a white face and throat. 

 It is a bird of rough bushy country, which is seldom found in 

 flocks, utters a deep plaintive note, and breeds in low trees. 

 This species walks with the utmost rapidity, and feeds upon the 

 ground on seeds of grasses and grain. It is found in tropical 

 and Southern Africa, in Madagascar, and at Aden and Jeddah. 



Group (d). The most typical Peristerinae constitute a fourth 

 section, usually with metallic wing-spots, restricted to America. 

 Metriopelia melanoptera and M. ay mar a range from Ecuador and 

 Peru respectively to Chili and the borders of Argentina. The 

 former is greyish-brown above and vinaceous below, with black 

 wings and tail, the latter has golden spots on the wing-coverts. 

 They are found in small flocks in the valleys of the Andes, and 

 in winter on the coast, being called by the natives " Tortola 

 cordillerana," or " Cordillera Dove." Peristera cinerea is bluish- 

 grey in the male, with lighter under parts, black remiges and outer 

 rectrices, some velvety black spots being very conspicuous on the 

 wings and scapulars. The female is brown, with cinnamon wing- 

 spots. This species ranges from South Mexico to Paraguay ; 

 while P. fjeoffroyi, with white-tipped lateral tail-feathers and a 

 grey breast, inhabits South-East Brazil; P. mondetoura, with 



