438 CLASS xvi. 



Columba GRAY. Bill slender. Wings pointed, with second and 

 third quills subequal, second longest of all. Tarsi short. Lateral 

 toes equal. Tail even or subrounded, somewhat short. 



Sp. Columba Palumbus L., BUFF. PL enl. 316, NAUM. Taf. 150; the ring- 

 dove; gi'ey, the breast purple- coloured, with a transverse spot on each 

 side of the neck ; the tail black at the extremity ; on the wings a white 

 spot, feet red. The largest native species; it lives in woods, makes its 

 ^ nest in trees, and is very shy. 



Columba lima GESNEB, BRISS., BUFF. PI. enl. 510, NAUM. Taf. 150; 

 bluish-grey, the neck glossed with green ; two black transverse bars on the 

 wings, the tail black at the extremity, the legs red. This species is found 

 wild in many countries of Europe, especially in the south of Europe. From 

 it descends our domestic pigeon, of which there are so many varieties, and 

 which was employed by the ancients, as it is frequently at the present day, 

 for the transport of written messages. (See PLINIUS Hist. not. L. x. c. 37.) 



Ectopistes SWAINS., GRAY. Bill slender, curved, with tip of 

 upper mandible produced. Wings pointed, with first and second 

 quills subequal, second longest of all. Heel plumed, tail elongate, 

 cuneiform. 



Sp. Columba migratoria L., BUFF. PL enl. 176, WILSON Amer. Ornith., ed. 

 JARDINE, n. Tab. 44, fig. i ; this species flies with great rapidity, and is 

 sometimes seen in the beech-woods of North America in flocks which are 

 counted by millions. See WILSON 1. 1. pp. 194 208. 



(Ena SELBY. (Sub-genus scarcely distinct from the preceding. 

 Bill, however, more slender, with mandibles subequal. Wings with 

 second quill longest of all. Tarsi with heel naked.) 



Sp. Columba capensis L., BUFF. PL enl. 140. 



Macropygia SWAINS. Bill short, slender. Wings with third 

 quill longest. Tarsi plumed below the heel. Lateral toes equal. 

 Tail elongate, cuneate, with feathers broad. 



Sp. Columba amboinensis L., Columba phasianella TEMM. PL col. 100; 

 Columba Reinwardtii TEMM. PL col. 248. These species represent the 

 American sub-genus Ectopistes at the Moluccan and Philippine islands. 



Lopholaimus GRAY, Lopliorhynchus SWAINS. Bill strong, short, 

 compressed, curved. Wings long, with third quill longest. Tail 

 long, subrounded. 



Sp. Columba antarctica SHAW, Columba dilopka TEMM. PL col. 162; in the 

 south of New Holland. 



B. Outer toe a little longer than inner. 



Carpophaga SELBY, GRAY. Bill moderate or short, curved, 

 broad at the base, depressed, compressed at the tip. Tarsi strong, 



