254 AVES: COLUMB.E. XL. 



etc.), the others usually not webbed. Tarsus mostly scutellate in 

 front, elsewhere reticulate, the plates soft. Head small, skull 

 schizognathous, the nasal bones schizorhinous ; basipterygoids 

 present. Plumage soft, compact, the feathers very loosely inserted. 

 Altricial; monogamous. 



A small order, including some extinct forms, closely related to 

 the Gallince. The principal family is the Columbidce. 



Families of Columbae. 

 a. Wings and tail well developed COLUMBIDCE, 151. 



FAMILY CLI. COLUMBIDCE. (THE PIGEONS.) 



Wings long, pointed; tail never forked, of 12 or 14 feathers; 

 plumage compact, the feathers loosely inserted. Species about 

 300, found in most regions, but most abundant in the East Indies. 

 Besides the following, quite a number of pigeons occur in the 

 Southern States. The common tame dove (Columba cenas L.) is a 

 fair type of the family. 



a. Tarsus feathered at the suffrage, shorter than the lateral toes. (Columbin.ee.) 



b. Tail very long, wedge-shaped, of 12 pointed feathers. ECTOPISTES, 411. 



aa. Tarsus entirely bare, scutellate, longer than the lateral toes. (Zenaidince.) 



c. Tail long, pointed, of 14 pointed feathers, its length more than wing. 



ZENAIDUBA, 412. 

 cc. Tail short, rounded, of 12 broad feathers ; less than wing. 



COLUMBIGALLINA, 413. 



411. ECTOPISTES Swainson. (e'/mmo-nyr, wanderer.) 



798. E. migratorius (L.). WILD PIGEON. PASSENGER 

 PIGEON. Bluish drab, with reddish and violet tinges, reddish 

 below; $ more reddish. L. 17. W. 7. T. 8. E. N. A., 

 abundant; gregarious. 



412. ZEN AIDUR A Bonaparte. (Zenaida, a related genus ; ovpa, 

 tail; Zenaida was named for Madame Zenaida Bonaparte.) 



799. Z. macroura (L.). MOURNING DOVE. TURTLE DOVE. 

 CAROLINA DOVE. Brownish olive, glossed with blue and wine 

 color ; plumage with metallic lustre ; a dark ear spot ; outer tail 

 feathers with white ; 9 duller. L. 12. W. 5f. T. 6f . N. Am., 

 N. to Canada, very abundant, feeding on the ground, its mournful 

 note not an index to its merry disposition, (fia/cpos, large ; oupo, 

 tail.) 



413. COLUMBIGALLINA I) ok'. (Lat., columba, pigeon ; 

 gallina, hen.) 



800. C. passerina (L.). GROUND DOVE. Grayish olive, with 

 bluish gloss; the head, breast, etc., wine-color in $. L. 6-|. W. 



