SURINAM PIGEON. 75 



be seen in the number of twenty or more at a time 

 in the pea-fields as soon as the peas begin to ripen, 

 and that they do much mischief in consequence : 

 their stay with us seldom exceeds four or five 

 months : they occur as far west as Devonshire ; they 

 are not common in that part, but are rather more 

 frequent in Somerset. They are often found far 

 to the north. Their note is singularly tender and 

 plaintive ; and the male in addressing his mate 

 makes use of a variety of pleasing attitudes, cooing 

 at the same time in gentle and soothing tones : he 

 assists the female in the process of incubation. 

 Montague takes notice of some singular glands, 

 situated beneath the craws of this bird, which se- 

 crete a milky fluid. . 



This bird appears to be generally disseminated 

 over the old continent, occurring in Europe, Asia, 

 and parts of Africa. 



SURINAM PIGEON. 



(Columba Surinamensis.) 



Co. cinerea subtus alba, guld viridi nigroque varia, retnigibus 



exterioribusjuscis, mediis cinereit. 

 Grey Pigeon, beneath white, with the throat varied with green 



and black; the exterior quills brown, cinereous in the middle. 

 Columba surinamensis. Gotcl. Syst. Nat. ]. 767. 67. Lath. 



2nd. Orn. 2. 607. 50. Temrn. Pig. Ind. 472. 

 La Tourterelle de Surinam. Fermin. Surin. 2. p. 165. 

 Colombe Fermin. Temm. Pig. (8vo.) p. 375. 

 Surinam Turtur. Lath. Gen. Syn. 4. 647. 41. 



