220 GYRATORES. COLUMBADJE. 



GENUS CoLUMBA. (LlNN.) 



In this, the typical genus, which contains the 

 species common to Europe, the beak is of moder- 

 ate strength, straight at the base, compressed at 

 the sides, with the. tip bent downward : the nos- 

 trils nearly linear, covered with a soft, swollen 

 membrane ; the tarsi short, partly feathered in 

 front ; the hind toe rather long ; the wings power- 

 ful, rather pointed, the second quill longest ; the 

 tail nearly even at the extremity. 



The species of this genus are very numerous, 

 and widely spread over the globe: they commonly 

 breed on tall trees, on the branches of which they 

 construct rude and artless nests of twigs loosely 

 put together, so as to form a slight platform, 

 sometimes without the slightest concavity. Some, 

 however, breed in the holes and on the ledges of 

 rocks. 



We select for illustration of the genus, one of 

 the largest of its species, the common Ring-dove, 

 or Wood-pigeon, of our own country (Columba 

 palumbus, LINN.), called also, provincially, the 

 Queest and the Cushat. 



This fine bird is of a bluish -grey tint on the 

 upper parts, which is darker on the back and 

 wing coverts ; the breast is purplish-red, becoming 

 grey on the lower parts ; the sides and front of 

 the neck display rich metallic reflections of green 

 and purple ; some of the feathers of this part are 

 tipped with white, forming an imperfect ring of 

 white, partly encircling the neck, whence its most 

 common name. 



The Ring-dove is a constant resident in the 





