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GENUS VINAGO, CUVIER. 



IN the warm and intertropical climates of Asia 

 and Africa, besides a variety of pigeons, character- 

 ized by a form similar to that of our ring-pigeon and 

 other European species, groups of this beautiful race 

 are met with, differing from them in many particu- 

 lars, both as to form, habits, and economy, and con- 

 stituting independent genera or divisions in this ex- 

 tensive family. Such are the members of the genus 

 Vinago, a group which Cuvier first separated from 

 the typical pigeons, and of which our first plate, 

 representing a common though elegant species, is 

 given as an example. The predominating colours 

 in all are green and yellow of different intensities, 

 contrasted more or less in certain parts with rich 

 purple or reddish-brown. The greater wing-coverts 

 and secondary quills are also in most of the species 

 distinctly margined or edged with a conspicuous 

 line of the brightest yellow, which gives them a 

 singular and beautiful effect. In the more essen- 

 tial characters, their bill is much stronger and thicker 

 than that of the pigeons, the tip or horny part being 

 of a very hard substance, much hooked and inflated, 

 the nostrils are more exposed, and scarcely exhibit 

 any appearance of the swollen or projecting mem- 



