358 



NORTU A.MERICAx^f BIRDS. 



Genus COLUMBA, Lin.v.els. 



Cohtmba, Lixn/Eis, Syst. Nat. 1 ";!,">. (Tyi'o, Culumha licin, L.) 



Gen. Cii.vn. Bill stout and r.itlicr sliort ; cuinien from the base of the feathers about 

 two fifths the head. Lateral toes and claws al)out equal, reachinfj nearly to the base of 

 the niidille elaw ; the claws rather Un)<s, and not ninch curved. Tail ratiier short, rounded, 

 or nearly even ; as lonj,' as from the carpal joint to the end of secondaries ni the closed 

 wing. Second and third quills longest. 



Tlie gomis Colmnha, as cliaracterizetl above, includes tlie C. Uvia, or doinestic 



J'igeoii, the diileiences lie- 

 tween it and the American 

 forms heing very sliglit. 

 lieichenliach and Bona- 

 parte separate tiie Xortli 

 American liirds from Cn- 

 h'nihd, under tlie name of 

 t'li/i>r<i liK.f, wliile C. Icxco- 

 vcjiltaln anil a near ally 

 of the West Indies (C. 

 corcimix) liave been jilaeeti 

 in the subgenus I'ldar/i- 

 (riiaa, Iieiclienl)ach. 



The variations of form 

 among the n\imerous 

 American mendiers of 

 Cohrmhri are more witii the s])ecies, however, than with groups, and withal 

 are so exceedingly slight that i'u attempt at subdividing the genus is .scnrcely 

 justifiable. Tliev may be arranged by the style of coloration as i'oli(j\vs. 

 None of the American si)ecies have the forepart of tlie neck metallic, as in 

 the European species, or Co/iniih(( proper, as restricted, and in which these 

 metallic feathers have tlie fibres loose and lilended, instead of being com- 

 pact ; the feathers also ha\e a well-detined sipiamate arrangement in nearly 

 or cjuite all the American Coluuihcc. 



Cohtmfin fnsriata. 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Tail with a broad terminal b.'uid abruptly litrhler in color ih.in the basal 

 portion, and with a more or less wcU-deliiied bLackish band across the middle. 

 Nai)e with metallic reflections. 



a. A narrow nu.'hal lnoid of while; the metallic fcalheis licneath this, with 

 their outlines distinct, produciiifj a si|uaniate appearance. 



1. C. fasciata. I!lacl<isli baml across the middle of tin" tail narrow, 

 an<l badly dctined, and t'oncealed by tlie coverts; terminal [lorlion of 

 the tail iniich lighter than the hiusal part. Bill yellow; eri.ssuni wliiiish; 



