198 PLUMAGE. i CHAP. vi. 



by the name of Goad-Gang ; the English call it Ground- 

 Pigeon, which signifies Pigeon de terre. (Perhaps this 

 may be a confusion of species.) 



" The adult male is fifteen inches and a half from 

 the point of the bill to the extremity of the tail ; the 

 forehead is pure white, and is softly shaded into light 

 rose colour ; this becomes more violaceous in approach- 

 ing the occiput, and forms, in passing over the eyes, a 

 sort of horse-shoe. The orifices of the ears are covered 

 with small white feathers. The prevailing colour on 

 the upper parts is an ashy brown ; each feather is mar- 

 gined with earthy yellow. The greater wing coverts 

 have towards their extremity a spot of radiant bright- 

 ness. The glancing reflections of the ruby and the 

 opal shine only in emulation of these feathers, which, 

 by their re-union, when the wing is in a state of rest, 

 form two transverse bands over this part ; these feathers 

 are tipped with a lovely pearly white. The small and 

 middle coverts have also these same brilliant spots, more 

 or less irregularly distributed; they are tipped with 

 yellowish grey. On the secondary quills of the wings 

 are large circles (miroirs) of purplish green . The tail 

 is composed of eighteen ash- coloured feathers, with a 

 black stripe towards their extremity ; the two middle 

 feathers are the colour of the body ; the under part of 

 the tail is also ashy grey, but all the feathers are tra- 

 versed by a brown bar. The lower parts of the body 

 are grey, with vinous tints on the breast. The inner 

 part of the wings is rusty rufous ; the bill is blackish, 

 but its base is reddish ; the feet are red. 



" The female has no white on her forehead ; all the 

 head is ashy grey : this colour prevails over the other 

 parts of the bird, but the tints are in general less clear 



