THE COLUJIEIKE, OR PIGEOK GROUP. IV 



THE COLUMBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. 



Very numerous are the species comprehended 

 under the term pigeon, (Columba,) and many 

 are the genera into which they are resolvable. 

 Their geographic distribution is most extensive. 

 Some species seem very widely spread, as the 

 rock-dove, found alike in Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa, -while others are restricted in the range 

 of their natural territory. Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, America, Australia, the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, New Zealand, and various islands in 

 the southern ocean, present us with various and 

 beautiful species of the columbine group ; of 

 these, some are exclusively arboreal and fruit- 

 eaters ; as the aromatic pigeon of Java, the 

 manosope of New Guinea, and the nutmeg 

 pigeon of the Moluccas ; others are partially 

 terrestrial in their habits, as the ring-pigeon 

 or cushat, and the stock-dove or wood-pigeon of 

 Europe ; and others are exclusively terrestrial, 

 as the carunculated pigeon (Geophilus caruncu- 

 latiis) of South Africa, and some American and 

 Australian species. A few, as the rock -pigeon, 

 (Columba livia,) frequent abrupt and inacces- 

 sible precipices, along the shores of the sea, 



