BRITISH BIRDS. 



COLUMBUS. 



COLUMBIDjE. 



COLUMBA PALUMBUS, Linmeus *. 

 THE KING DOVE OR WOOD PIGEON. 



Columba palumbus. 



COLUMBA, Linnceus^. Bill moderate, straight at the base, compressed, the 

 point deflected. Base of the upper mandible covered with a soft skin, in which 

 the nostrils are pierced. Tarsi short, anteriorly scutellate, posteriorly scurfy ; 

 feet, three toes in front, entirely divided, one toe behind. Wing?, long, broad, 

 rather pointed ; the second quill-feather longest. Tail of twelve feathers nearly 



even. 



* Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 282 (1766). 

 VOL. III. 



f Tom. cit. p. 279. 

 B 



