102 ORTHOGENETIC EVOLUTION IN PIGEONS. 



THE GEOTRYGONIN.S. 



The Geotrygoninae form a large subfamily of pigeons (see table 2). These are 

 all birds that run on the ground most of the time, and their behavior in fighting, 

 in cooing, and in hiding with tail raised and head down stamps them all, so far as I 

 have seen them, as of common descent. It is in this group that we find the Leptop- 

 tila, Osculatia, Geotrygon, and Starnoenas of North and South America; the Phlo- 

 goenas of the Philippines, the Leucosarda of Australia, the Haplopelia of the Ethio- 

 pian region, the Eutrygon and Otidiphaps of New Guinea. The group then has a 

 wide distribution, and furnishes another example of birds that have departed from 

 the turtle-dove pattern, mainly by loss of spots. 



In a Geotrygon (sp. ?) from Brazil I find dark centers reduced to a minimum in 

 the under tail-coverts and on the under surface of the body generally. The long 

 coverts of the wing have dull dark centers and some of them show a light (rufous) 

 edge. In young geotrygons I have seen a dull reddish-brown mid-streak in the 

 upper wing-coverts. (This streak is of the same color as that of the same streak 

 found in Melopelia. 



Leptoptila shows characteristics in courting behavior and in voice that seem 

 to match well with those of Calopelia. Dr. Butler 60 makes note of the agreement in 

 behavior. The Juvenal upper wing-coverts (pi. 43, fig. 6) of Leptoptila are of interest 

 in showing the light mesial streak 61 which, as we have already noted, is the means 

 of ^dividing the dark turtle-dove center into two lateral chequers. 



Phlogoenas luzonica the bleeding-heart pigeon has three plain wing-bars in the 

 posterior part of the wing. A fourth bar is so covered and irregular as not to appear, 

 but two middle coverts show that the bar-elements are here continued, though 

 reduced in sharpness. The wing-pattern thus strongly reminds of conditions in 

 Columba livia. 



Leucosarda picata, the white-faced pigeon, has the turtle-dove pattern in the 

 adult feathers; such feathers are, however, limited to the larger portion of the under 

 surface of the body. A series of 19 feathers, taken from along the right side of the 

 body, from the breast to the under tail-coverts, are shown in plate 44. The 

 pattern exhibited in this series of feathers deserves further consideration. 



In the flank feathers (12-14) and under-tail coverts (15) we find the typical 

 turtle pattern. The same pattern, but less perfect, is shown in the under wing- 

 coverts (16-19). Passing forward on the abdomen, we see this pattern so gradually 

 modified, by reduction of the dark center, that we feel sure, when we reach the 



'"Avicultural Magazine, June 1900. 



" This median streak is of the same nature as the apical spots of the Zenaidn mutant ! (See Chapter IX. ED.) 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 44. 

 Selected feathers from white-faced pigeon, Leucosarda picata. x 0.8. Hayashi del., May 1903. 



19 feathers along the right side, from breast to under tail-coverts; 16 to 19 are under wing-coverts. 

 No. 1. From lower breast, right side. No. 15. An under tail-covert; illustrates all of the 



No. 2. From close behind No. 1. turtle Pattern. 



_, . . ... Nos. 16 to 19. Under wing-coverts. These are in 4 



No. 3 to 1 1 . Continue the series and reach about half- transverse rows 



way to the leg, or to about the middle of the No 16 Frora middle of first (anteri or) row. 



abdomen. No. 17. From middle of second row. 



Nos. 12 to 14. From the flank feathers lying across the No. 18. From middle of third row. 



leg and reaching to under tail-coverts. No. 19. From middle of fourth row 



The color of 1 to 15 is brown-gray for nearly two-thirds of the feather's length. The distal third is white. Feathers 

 10 to 14 have a faint tinge of buff in the white. 



