PODARGUS. BIRDS. 269 



In Britain the Goatsucker is only a summer visitant, arriving about the end of 

 May, and departing in September. Its winter retreat is supposed to be Africa and Asia. 



C. rujicollis, Tern. Head, back, and wings clear gray, varied with 

 black points and zigzag lines ; a large red collar round the nape, 

 shading into white before ; two lateral feathers of the tail termi- 

 nated by a white spot. 12 inches long. Inhabits Europe. Tern. 

 Man. 438. 



C. grandis,'La.th. (Nyctibius, Vieill.) Plumage variegated with dusky 

 white, and yellow above, black and white beneath ; space round 

 the eyes yellowish ; feet white ; bill covered with hairs. 2 feet 

 long. Inhabits South America. Shaw., x. 142. 



Gen. 4. PODARGUS, Illig. Caprimulgus, Lath. 



Bill broader than the head, abruptly acuminate at the tip, de- 

 flexed; upper mandible spatuliform, carinated; nostrils linear; 

 wings shorter than the tail; toes separate ; claws nearly equal. 



P. cornutus, Tern. Head with a tuft of long decomposed feathers, 

 a little above and behind the eyes ; bill surrounded with bristles ; 

 back and wings red, sprinkled with black ; scapulars spotted with 

 white ; throat white ; tail wedged, red, with undulated lines. 

 9 inches long. Inhabits Java. Shaw, xiii. pi. 41. 



ORDER IX. COLUMB^E. 



Bill of moderate dimensions, compressed ; base of the upper 

 mandible covered with a soft skin, in which the nostrils are 

 perforated, the tip more or less curved ; feet with three toes 

 in front, quite divided, and one behind. 



This order contains but one genus, but is numerous in species, and these very 

 widely dispersed over the world. Pigeons are generally of an elegant form, of beau- 

 tiful varying plumage, and gentle manners. They are strictly monogamous, and the 

 female lays but two eggs, which are incubated alternately by both sexes. The young 

 are fed by the parent birds witli food from their crop which has undergone macera- 

 tion. The food of pigeons consists of grain and seeds, rarely fruits. They drink 

 with a continued draught. 



Gen. 1. COLUMBA, Lin. 



Bill of medium size, straight, compressed, arched, tip curved ; 

 base of the upper mandible covered with a soft skin, more or 

 less inflated ; nostrils in the middle of the membrane ; legs 

 generally red ; three toes before, entirely divided, one behind, 

 articulated on the heel ; wings with the second quill-feather 

 longest. 



C. palumbus, Lin. Ring-Dove or Cushat. Head, cheeks, neck, and 

 lower parts of the back bluish gray ; upper parts of the back and 

 wing-coverts deeper ; a patch of white on the neck ; breast and 

 belly brownish-purple; quills blackish-gray, margined with white; 



