226 COLUMBIN E. COLUMBA. 



afterwards narrow ; stomach a powerful gizzard of a some- 

 what rhomboidal form, with very large muscles ; intestine 

 long and slender ; coeca very small, cylindrical. Nostrils 

 linear, direct, in the lower and fore part of the bare fleshy 

 nasal membrane. Eyes of moderate size ; eyelids generally 

 bare. Head oblong, small, compressed ; neck rather short, 

 body compact, full. Legs short, rather strong ; tarsi very 

 short, roundish, anteriorly scutellate, behind scurfy ; toes of 

 moderate size ; the first about half the length of the third, 

 the lateral nearly equal ; all free, marginate, with nume- 

 rous short scutella ; claws short, arched, compressed, rather 

 acute. Plumage various ; the feathers with extremely short 

 tubes, and thick spongy shafts, without plumule ; wings long, 

 broad, rather pointed, of about twenty- four quills, the second 

 quill longest ; tail generally moderate, even or rounded in 

 various degrees, of twelve broad feathers. 



Four species of this genus are found in Britain. Of these, 

 three are permanently resident, while the other, the Turtle 

 Dove, is a summer visitant. 



146. COLUMBA PALUMBUS. RINGED DOVE, OR CUSHAT. 



Plumage of the upper parts greyish-blue ; wings and scapu- 

 lars tinged with brown ; hind part and sides of the neck bright 

 green and purplish-red, with two cream-coloured patches ; 

 fore part of neck and breast light reddish-purple ; a white 

 patch on the wings, including the four outer secondary coverts, 



Male, 18, 31, 10J, 1, 1 T 2 ^, 1 T *,, T %. Female, 17/30. 



This species is generally dispersed over the wooded and 

 cultivated parts of Britain and Ireland. It feeds on seeds of 

 wheat, barley, oats, leguminous plants, field mustard and char- 

 lock, beech-mast, acorns, grasses, blades of clover, and leaves 

 of the turnip. In winter it appears in large flocks, sometimes 

 composed of many hundred individuals. It reposes on the 

 branches of tall trees, especially beech, ash, and pine, in 

 hedgerows, avenues, or plantations ; places its nest also on 

 trees, forming it of twigs loosely put together, in a circular 

 form, and nearly flat above ; and lays two oval, pure white, 

 glossy eggs, an inch and seven-twelfths in length, an inch and 

 two-twelfths in breadth. In fine weather it basks in the sun, 

 on dry banks, or in the open fields, rubbing itself in the sand 

 or soil. The male in spring struts and cooes, rises in the air, 

 strikes the points of his wings against each other, descends, 



