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GENUS CH^EMEPELIA, SWAINSON, 



THE characters of which are : Bill slender, en- 

 tire, the upper mandible gently deflected at the tip. 

 Wings rounded, the first and fourth feathers of equal 

 length, and a little shorter than the second and third, 

 which are also equal ; second, third, and fourth fea- 

 thers, with their exterior web sinuated, the fourth 

 with the middle of its inner web strongly toothed. 

 Tail rounded. Tarsi of nearly equal length with the 

 middle toe. The paratarsia or exterior side of the 

 tarsus with a line of small feathers. 



Type Columba Talpicoti Temminck. The mem- 

 bers of this genus are natives of Continental Ameri- 

 ca, and its islands, and, with the exception of the 

 Columba Hottentotta of Temminck, an African and 

 nearly allied form, are the most diminutive of the 

 Pigeon tribe, several of the species scarcely exceed- 

 ing a sparrow in bulk. The wings are rounded, 

 though of ample extent, and the quill-feathers very 

 large arid broad ; and, in all the species we have 

 examined, the fourth feather exhibits a remarkable 

 tooth or projecting notch near the middle of the in- 

 ner web. They inhabit the confines of woods and 

 bushy tracts, and are generally seen in pairs or small 

 families. They live much upon the ground, where 



