COLUMBA. 211 



c 2 . Wing less than 4.00. 



d\ Tail as long as or longer than wing, lateral feathers graduated and 



narrowed at tips Scardafella. (Page 215.) 



d*. Tail much shorter than wing, rounded, the feathers broad at ends. 



Columbigallina. (Page 214.) 

 6 2 . Front of tarsus covered with hexagonal scutellge. 



Otherwise like Geotrygon, but tarsi decidedly longer than middle toe, 

 with claw Starncenas. (Page 217.) 



GENUS COLUMBA LINN.EUS. (Page 210, pi. LXIL, figs. 1, 2.) 



Species. 



a 1 . Terminal third of tail abruptly lighter in color than the basal portion, the two 

 shades (of grayish) separated by a blackish band ; lower tail-coverts white. 

 Above plumbeous, browner on back, more bluish on rump, the wing- 

 coverts paler and narrowly edged with white; quills dusky. Adult 

 male : A narrow half-collar of white across upper portion of hind-neck, 

 the rest of the hind-neck dull metallic bronzy green ; head, fore-neck, 

 and lower parts more or less purplish, or glaucous-vinaceous, or violet, 

 becoming more pinkish on belly and plumbeous on sides ; bill yellow (in 

 life) with black tip. Adult female : Similar to the male, but usually 

 much duller in color, the white nuchal bar indistinct or even obsolete, 

 the breast grayer, belly whitish, hind neck less metallic, and size rather 

 less. Young : Somewhat like adult female, but feathers of upper 

 parts narrowly and rather indistinctly margined with paler ; head and 

 neck dull plumbeous (in male) or light grayish brown (in female), with 

 indistinct paler tips to feathers ; no trace of white bar on nape, and 

 lower parts dull grayish, tinged with brown on breast. Length 15.00- 

 16.00, wing 8.00-8.80, tail 6.00-6.50. Hab. Western United States, from 

 Eocky Mountains to the Pacific coast, and south through Mexico to 

 highlands of Guatemala 312. C. fasciata SAY. Band-tailed Pigeon. 



rt 2 . Tail of a uniform shade throughout ; lower tail-coverts slate-gray. 



b 1 . Neck same color all round, and entirely destitute of metallic gloss. Adult 

 male : Head, neck, and breast purplish chocolate, or vinaceous-chestnut, 

 the lesser and upper middle wing- coverts similar, but brighter, or less 

 vinaceous ; back, scapulars, and tertials grayish brown or olivaceous ; 

 rest of plumage dark plumbeous or slaty, clearest on rump and flanks, 

 paler on under wing-coverts, darker on tail. Adult female : Similar, but 

 rather smaller and color duller. Length 13.75-14.60, wing about 7.50- 

 7.80, tail 5.40-5.50. Eggs 1.47 X 1-06. Sab. Mexico and Central Amer- 

 ica, south to Costa Eica, north to southern Texas and Lower California. 



313. C. flavirostris WAGL. Red-billed Pigeon. 



6 2 . Hind-neck ornamented by a " cape" of metallic brassy or bronzy green or 

 purplish, each feather distinctly bordered with velvety black. Adult 

 (sexes alike): Entire top of head white or pale grayish buffy; upper 



