THE COLUMBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. Il9 



intervals, but pigeons take a long-continued 

 draught, like quadrupeds." 



The hind toe, instead of being elevated on 

 the leg, or tarsus, in the pigeon, is upon the 

 same plane as the anterior toes ; it is fairly- 

 pressed to the ground in walking, and em- 

 braces the roost in perching. Again, the wings 

 are long, the quill feathers firm, and the flight 

 remarkable for rapidity and endurance. To 

 these rules there are certain exceptions, some 

 of the more terrestrial species of pigeon being 

 found to approximate in some degree, as it 

 respects these particulars, to the gallinaceous 

 tribes, while, at the same time, no one can 

 mistake their true affinities. Two species of 

 crowned pigeon* {Lophyrus) for example are 

 known, both from the Moluccas, New Guinea, 

 etc. Yet these large and heavy birds, almost 

 exclusively terrestrial in their habits, and ex- 

 ceeding a fowl in size, are in essential structure 

 true pigeons, though the wings and limbs 

 approximate to those of gallinaceous birds. 



We will not here enter into technical 

 details, but we believe that, in a thorough 

 examination of the internal organization, the 



* Both species have been kept alive (1845) in the gardeni 

 of the Zool. Soc. 



