RING-TAIL PIGEON. 291 



ORDER. GYRANTES. (Girders.) 



FAM. COLUMBAD.E. (The Pigeons.) 



RING-TAIL PIGEON.* 



Columba Caribbea. 



Columba Caribbea, LINN. Temm. Pig. pi. J 0. 



Columba ktmprauchen, WAGL. 



OF all our Doves, none is so exclusively arboreal 

 as this. The Bald-pate, the Blue Pigeon, and the 

 Ring-tail are essentially tree-doves, but I have seen 

 the first feeding on the ground, and the second is 

 often seen running ; but all who are acquainted 

 with this bird's haunts and habits concur in affirm- 

 ing that he is never seen to put his feet upon the 

 earth. Though it is probable that he must occa- 

 sionally procure gravel, to aid in the comminution 

 of his hard food, and that, when the resources of 

 the wild-pines are exhausted in the long droughts, 

 he must descend to drink at the mountain ponds, 



* " Length 16 inches, expanse 24, tail S|, tarsus 1, middle toe 1^-. 

 Irides brilliant orange ; orbits carmine ; beak black ; feet coral-red. Crown, 

 sides of head, and fore-neck, obscure reddish-purple ; throat white. Back 

 of neck splendid purplish green ; back, rump, thighs, and parts beneath the 

 wings, pale blue. Basal half of tail pale blue, gradually merging into a black- 

 ish-blue bar, nearly an inch broad, which crosses the feathers ; thence to 

 the tip, greyish-blue. Wing quills blackish brown, the first five edged with 

 white ; coverts towards the back, and the pinion [winglet?], dull olive; 

 the rest of a very dull blue. Breast and belly dull reddish-brown. Weight 

 lOoz. 2dr " (Robinson, MSS., ii. 114, abridged.) 



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