COLUMBID^E. 



COLUMBIA. 



Perutera tympaniitria. 



" Whether they will form a separate division, or the three first will 

 enter among the Peritterma, and the Lophyriu alone remain a repre- 

 sentative of another group, we are unable to determine, uot possessing 

 sufficient materials to institute so strict an analysis as is necessary, or 

 to trace out with precision the direct affinities of those species, and 

 the situation they hold in respect to the other groups of the 

 Columbida, as well as those of the adjoining families. The three first 

 we have provisionally included in the genus Geophilw. In their 

 form and habits they approach still nearer to the typical gallinaceous 

 birds than the species we have just been describing. Their tarsi are 

 long, and covered with hexagonal scales ; their tail short, and rather 

 pendent ; their wings concave, short, and rounded ; and their body, 

 as compared with the typical pigeons, thick and heavy. A striking 

 departure from the general economy of the Culumbidie is further 

 observed in their mode of propagation, the number of the eggs they 

 lay each hatching not being confined to two, as is seen to prevail in 

 the groups already described, but extending to eight or ten, which are 

 incubated upon the ground, and the young, like those of the true 

 gallinaceous birds, are produced from the egg in such n state as to 

 be able immediately to follow the parent, which broods over and 

 attends them like the partridge or domestic fowl. They live entirely 

 upon the ground, except during the hours of repose, when they some- 

 times retire to bushes, or the low branches of trees. They walk and 

 run with great quickness, like the Gallintr, and in fact appear to be 

 the forms which immediately connect this family with the Pavonida: 

 and Tetraonida. Although for the present we have placed the first 

 three under the same generic head, yet from their distinct geogra- 

 phical distribution, and the difference observed in the bill of the first, 

 it is more than probable that a further division will be required." 



Q. carunculatui. It is the Columba carimculata of Temminck ; the 

 Colombo Oalline of Le Vaillant. Size about that of the Common 

 Turtle, but with the body stouter and more rounded. Base of the 

 bill and forehead covered with a naked red wattle ; another wattle of 

 the same hue depends from the chin, and branches of it extend 

 upwards towards the ears. Plumage of head, cheeks, neck, and 

 breast, purplish-gray ; back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, pale gray ; 

 feathers bordered with white. Belly, upper and under tail-coverts, 

 flanks, and under wing-coverts, white. Tail short, rounded, deep 

 ruiMy-brown, except the outer feather on each side ; these have the 

 outer web white. Legs covered with hexagonal scales, purplish-red. 

 Iris with a double circle, yellow and red. The female has no wattle, 

 ami her colours are less pure. (Le Vaillant.) 



It inhabits South Africa, where it was discovered in the Great 

 Namaqua country by Le Vaillant, who gives the following account of 

 its habits and affinities : " To the pigeons its affinity is shown by 

 tin- t'nrm of the bill and the plumage ; while it differs from them in 

 the pendent wattle, elongated torsi, rounder body, less graceful form, 

 tail, which it carries hanging down like that of a partridge, and 

 rounded wings ; points which bring it near to the GaUinai." A 

 pa/wage is thus formed by it, in his opinion, between those birds and 

 the pigeon*. The nest, composed of twigs and the dried stems of 

 gramen, is formed in some slight hollow of the ground, and there the 

 female lays six or eight reddish-white eggs, which are incubated by 

 the parent*. The young are hatched clothed with down of a 

 reddish-gray, run immediately and follow their parents, which keep 



them together by a peculiar oft-repeated cry, and brood over them 

 with their wings. Their first food consists of the larvae of ants, dead 

 insects, and worms, which the parents point out to them. When 

 strong enough to find their own food, they live on grain of different 

 sorts, berries insects, &c., and keep together in coveys, like the 

 partridge and other Tetraonidos, till the pairing-time. 



Geophilus carunculatvs. 



If the wattles of the last-named species recall to the observer the 

 same parts so highly developed in the gallinaceous birds, the species 

 which we next present will remind him of the hackles which 

 ornament the GaUiiue. 



Q. Nicobaricu*. It is the Columba fricobarica of Latham, the 

 C. Hall us of Wagler. Length hardly 15 inches ; bill slender, about 1.J 

 inch long, tip but little bent downwards ; the tail pure white, the 

 quills deep blackish-blue, with varying tints of green ; all the rest of 

 the plumage rich metallic green, shooting, according to the light, 

 into the variegated tints of golden-green, bronze, Joright copper- 

 colour, and deep purplish-red; neck-feathers long, narrow, and 

 pointed, like those of the domestic cock ; barbules towards the tip 

 silky and distinct ; tail short, pendent, nearly square ; wings, when 

 closed, reaching nearly to the termination of tail ; legs strong, 

 moderately long, black, covered with hexagonal scales ; nails yellow, 

 gently curved, blunt. Upon the base of the upper mandible of the 

 male a round fleshy tubercle (probably apparent in the breeding 

 season only). The female resembles the male in colour, but her neck- 

 feathers are not so long, and she has no tubercle. 



It inhabits the isles of Nicobar, Java, Sumatra, and many of the 

 Moluccas. Authors differ about its habits, some asserting that its 

 nest is placed on the ground, and that the female lays several eggs, 

 the young running as soon as hatched ; but Mr. Bennett, who suw 

 them in Mr. Scale's aviary at Macao, says that they were usually 

 seen perched upon the trees, even upon the loftiest branches, and 

 adds, that they build their rude neats and rear their young upon 

 trees, similar to all the pigeon tribe. 



Lophyrui (Vieillot). Bill moderate, rather slender, and slightly 

 gibbous towards the tip ; upper mandible channeled (sillonnee) on 



