296 GYRANTES. COLUMBAD^. 



observation, but of careful and minute and repeated 

 inquiries. Mr. Hill writes me that it has been 

 abundant on the Highgate mountains since my 

 departure. 



Temminck asserts that the Ring-tail seems to be 

 spread over the whole Antilles and Bahamas, but 

 is not aware that it exists on the continent. Mauge 

 found it at Porto Rico, where it is said to associate 

 in flocks of many hundreds. (!) 



BLUE PIGEON.* 

 Columba rufina. 



Columba rufina, TEMM. Pig. 24. 



Columba Cayanensis, BONN. 



THE Blue Pigeon is found both on the moun- 

 tains and in the lowlands. On the former it seems 

 less to affect the deep forest, than such woods as skirt 

 cultivated ground. When the purple berries of the 



* Length 16 inches, expanse 26 , flexure 9, tail 5|, rictus 1^, tar- 

 sus 1-j^, middle toe 1^ (including claw ^). Iris consists of two circles, 

 the inner one pale blue, the outer pale orange, the junction of the colours 

 being marked by a line of dark blue. Orbits grey, edges of eyelids dull 

 xed. Beak black ; feet lake-red. Head, neck, breast, and belly, dull 

 reddish-purple. Scapulars and inter-scapulars dusky grey. Wings grey- 

 ish-black ; secondary greater coverts blue grey, edged with white ; mid- 

 coverts red-brown, merging into the surrounding colours. Back, rump, 

 and tail, slate blue, the latter deepening towards the tip. Chin pale grey. 

 Sides, thighs, under wing and tail-coverts, blue grey. Sexes barely differ- 

 ing. 



