196 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



FAMILY COLVMBIDM. 



Claws robust, short, rather blunt. Hind toe present, and articulated nearly on the same 

 plane with the others. Tarsi short, without spurs. Tail of twelve feathers. Bill mode- 

 rate, compressed, straight, deflected at the tip. Upper mandible covered at the base with 

 a soft membrane, in which the nostrils are pierced. Toes entirely divided. 



GENUS ECTOPISTES. Swainson. 



Bill rather slender. Wings long and pointed ; the two first quills subequal, longest. Lateral 

 toes unequal; the inner one longest. Tail long, wedge-shaped and pointed, of 12 or 14 

 feathers. 



THE WILD PIGEON. 



ECTOPISTES MIGRATORIA. 

 PLATE LXXIV. FIG. 167. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Columba migratoria. LinN-^us, Syst. Nat. p. 285; canadensis, p. 284 (female). Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol; 

 2, p. 322, pi. 14, No. 187. Wilson, Am. Om. Vol. 5, p. 102, pi. 44, fig. 1. Audubon, 

 fol. pi. 62. Dewitt Clinton, Med. aad Phil. Reg. Vol. 2, p. 210. Nuttall, Man. 

 Orn. Vol. 1, p. 628. 



Ectoptstes id. Rich. & Swainson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 362. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 164. Peabody, Mass. 

 Rep. p. 351. 



E. migratoria. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, p. 41. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 5, p. 25, pi. 285. 



E. id., Wandering Long-tailed Dove. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 184. 



Characteristics. Bluish grey. Throat, breast and sides vinaceous. Tail of twelve feathers: 

 the two middle ones black ; the others whitish. Female, colors more 

 dull ; breast ash brown. Young, dull grey spotted with whitish. 

 Length, 16 to 18 inches. 



Description. Tail long, extending three and occasionally four inches beyond the tips of 

 the closed wings. 



Color. Bill black. Iris bright red. Head and sides of the neck bluish, with metallic 

 reflexions. Above greyish blue. Throat, breast and sides brownish red or vinaceous. 

 Wings and two central tail-feathers blackish ; the former edged with rufous. A few black 

 spots on the upper wing-coverts. Lateral tail-feathers blue at the base, and white towards 

 the tips. Feet red ; claws black. 



Length, 16-0-18-0. Alar spread, 23 • - 25  0. 



