4 COLUMBIDJE.) 



soles are adaptations for perching, and are found in Pigeons that 

 live chiefly or wholly on trees. 



This subfamily inhabits the tropical and subtropical regions of 

 the Old World. Five out of seven genera are Indian. All are 

 purely fruit-eating birds, living on trees, and generally keeping in 

 flocks ; and all are good birds for the table . , 



Key to tJie Genera. 



a. Tail square or slightly rounded j 3rd primary 



sinuate on inner web. 

 '. Horny part of bill does not extend to 



frontal feathers. 

 ". Horny part of bill less than | of 



culmen. 

 3 . First three primaries acuminate ; sexes 



alike CROCOPUS, p. 4. 



b s . First three primaries not acuminate; 



sexes dissimilar OSMOTRERON, p. 7. 



b". Horny part of bill more than of 



culmen ; bill very deep and thick .... BUTRERON, p. 13. 

 b'. Horny part of bill extends back to frontal 



feathers , TRERON, p. 14. 



b. Tail graduated, much rounded or wedge- 



shaped j 3rd primary not sinuate SPHENOCERCUS, p. 15. 



Genus CROCOPUS, Bonap., 1854. 



This genus contains the common Green Pigeons of India and 

 Burma. The bill is stout, the soft basal portion nearly as long as 

 the rhamphotheca or horny terminal part ; tip well curved. "Wings 

 long and pointed, the first three primaries acuminate, the third 



Fig. 2. Primaries of Crocopus chloroy aster. %. 



quill with the inner margin deeply sinuate about the middle of its 

 length. Tail nearly square, or the middle feathers rather shorter 

 than the outer ; under tail-coverts about three-quarters the length 

 of the rectrices. Sexes alike, or nearly so. 

 There are but two species, both Indian. 



