THE PIGEONS 



[ORDER: Charadriiformr*. FAMILY: Columbidee] 

 PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 



[F. C. R. JOURDAIN. \V. P. PYCRAFT. A. L. THOMSON] 



WOO D-P I G E O N [<'<>!tiilt palumbu* (Linnaeus). Ring-dove, cuahat, queest, 

 woodie ; cuahie doo (Scotland). French, colombe ramier ; German, Ringil- 

 taubf ; Italian, colombarfio]. 



1. Description. The wood-pigeon is readily distinguished from all iU 

 congeners, not only by its much larger size, but also by the large patch of white 

 on the neck, and the broad band of white which runs across the extended wing 

 transversely to its long axis. Length 16 in. [406*4 mm.]. The sexes am alik--. 

 (PI. 89.) The head and neck are bluish grey glossed with metallic green and lilac ; 

 the side of the neck marked by a large patch of creamy white. The back and wings 

 are of a bluish lead colour, the greater wing-covert* are blackish. Across the 

 extended wing, from the region of the wrist joint, runs a broad white bar, tram- 

 veraely to the long axis of the extended wing; the anterior margin of the wrist 

 joint is also white. The under parts from the throat to the breast are vinous, with 

 the abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts pale bluish grey. The beak is orange- 

 red at the base, yellow towards the tip, the cere white ; the legs and toes are red, 

 and the iris is straw-yellow. The female is somewhat smaller and duller than the 

 male. The juvenile plumage differs from that of the adults in being duller and 

 paler, tinged with brown, and lacking the white patch on the neck. The beak is 

 dull red at the base, the rest greyish. The nestling is uparwly covered with 

 yellowish, hair-like down. [w. p. p.] 



2. Distribution. During the breeding season this species is generally 

 distributed through all the wooded portions of Europe (except in Scandinavia, and 

 Russia north of lat. 65-flft N.), as well as in Asia Minor, while other subcpecific 



VOL. ii. :i - 



