208 WHITE-BELLIED QROUND DOVE. 



tivity and quickness. Its flight is very low, and 

 amidst the shrubs, as if endeavouring to conceal it- 

 self, and is never long sustained. It is usually ob- 

 served alone or in pairs, rarely in families or small 

 flocks. It feeds upon the seeds of various grasses, 

 maize, &c., and is also supposed to devour berries 

 and small fruits. 



In length it measures about twelve inches. The 

 forehead, the chin, and throat, are hoary white. The 

 crown and nape of neck deep greenish -gray, tinged 

 with purple. The sides and hinder part of the neck 

 deep vinacious-red, with rich red lilac-purple and 

 golden-green reflections. Whole of the under plu- 

 mage white, tinged with vinacious-red upon the fore- 

 neck and breast. Upper plumage pale umber-brown, 

 with a slight tinge of oil-green. The three exterior 

 feathers on each side of the tail gray, tipped with 

 white, the middle feathers greyish-brown. First 

 quill-feather suddenly narrowed towards the tip. 

 Basal part of the inner webs of the quills, and the 

 whole of the under wing-coverts, pale orange-brown. 

 Bill black, five-eighths of an inch long. Legs and 

 toes reddish, the claws blunt and short. Tarsus one 

 and an eighth inch long. 



The next bird we have to notice is the 



