-203 



GENUS PERISTERA, SWATNSON. 



THIS well-marked group was first characterized 

 by Mr Swainson, in the third volume of the Zoolo- 

 gical Journal, and embraces a variety of species, na- 

 tives of America and the West India Islands. To 

 it we are inclined to add, at least for the present, a 

 few species belonging to the African Continent, as 

 they appear to possess characters precisely analogous, 

 and are distinguished by similar habits and manners. 

 In this group, an evident and near approach is made 

 to the true Gallinaceous Birds, both in regard to 

 form and economy. They have wings of a like shape, 

 being rounded and concave when expanded, like 

 those of a partridge. Their legs are considerably 

 longer than in the Typical Pigeons, and naked ; and 

 the feet formed for walking or running. From their 

 habits and general appearance, the French naturalists 

 have distinguished them from the other Columbidai 

 by the name of Colombi-Gallines, as expressive of 

 their near affinity to the other families of the Raso- 

 rial Order; and they stand, together with other 

 groups, as a separate section in Temminck's valuable 

 History of the Pigeons. They live and procure their 

 food upon the ground, where they walk and run 

 with facility ; but most of the species retire to low 



