GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 87 



ver-failing repast. It is here also that the small 

 and beautiful Ptilinopi or turtelines, and the larger 

 Carpophagse, or fruit-eating pigeons, are met with. 

 It is in the odoriferous region of the Spice Islands, 

 that these curious birds, the great crowned pigeon 

 or gowra, and the Nicobar ground pigeon, remark- 

 able for their respective deviation from the proper 

 Columbine form, find a suitable abode ; besides a 

 variety of other species belonging to different groups. 

 Africa also abounds in many beautiful species, among 

 which are several of the genus Vinago ; and to this 

 continent belongs the Col. carunculata, Auct., a bird 

 that makes as near an approach as any of the family 

 to the true Rasorial groups. In both regions of the 

 American Continent, we meet with a great variety 

 of species, many of them possessing the typical form 

 of the family, as represented by the ring-pigeon or 

 the common pigeon ; others approaching, both in 

 form and habits, in a greater or less degree, to the 

 typical Gallinaceous Birds, and in a manner taking 

 the place of, or representing certain forms of the 

 Tetraonidse, of which that continent is destitute. 

 In Europe, the species become greatly reduced in 

 number, and are confined to its warm and temperate 

 districts, as it is only where the cerealia and legumi- 

 nous plants nourish, and the oak and the beech bring 

 their fruit to perfection, that the pigeons can find a 

 regular supply of their appropriate food ; and even 

 in many of those districts where they abound du- 

 ring the summer and early autumnal months, they 



