ECTOPISTIN^E. 167 



comparative length of their toes, the inner in this 

 section being longer than the outer toe ; whereas in 

 the true pigeons they are of equal length, and by the 

 form of the tail which is more or less graduated, be- 

 ing merely rounded in the common Turtle, and gra- 

 duated to an extreme degree in the Passenger Pigeon 

 (Ectopistes migratoria). The passage from the pi- 

 geons to the turtles is by an easy gradation of form, 

 and is effected by such species as the Columba Le- 

 vaillantii of Wagler, which in external appearance 

 bears a close resemblance to the Turtur risorius of 

 South Africa, but retains the bill and feet of the pre- 

 ceding group. A great similarity exists in their ha- 

 bits and manners, and, like most of the true pigeons, 

 they are gressorial as well as arboreal birds, their 

 feet being equally adapted for walking or grasping. 

 They seek their food upon the ground, and subsist 

 upon the different cerealia, pulse, &c. They repose, 

 roost, and nidificate upon trees, and, like the pigeons, 

 lay but two eggs each hatching. Few of the minor 

 groups, or genera, or by whatever name the lowest 

 assemblage of species may be denominated, have yet 

 been characterised. We may point to the turtles or 

 group containing the common Turtle Dove, the do- 

 mestic Turtle, &c. as one ; another, as we have above 

 stated, is represented by the Passenger Pigeon of 

 America ; a third seems indicated by the Columba 

 humeralis of Temminck, the Columba erythrauchen 

 of Wagler, in which the wings are comparatively 

 hort and rounded, having the first quill-feather ab- 



