Mr. Swainson on several new groups in Ornithohgj/. 361 



In defining the genus Ptilinopus^ some time ago, I took occa- 

 sion to observe that the narrow and attenuated form of the first 

 quill feather was not peculiar to all the species of that group, 

 which rested more upon the tarsi being clothed with feathers. 

 The first of these observations is equally applicable to the pre- 

 sent division. In four species now before me, three only have 

 the first quill feather abruptly narrowed. But the tarsi of all 

 exhibit the very singular character of being destitute of scales 

 on their sides and back; these parts being merely covered with 

 a naked skin. Mr. Vigors has judiciously made this family the 

 point of junction between his Insessores and Rasores : it is there- 

 fore evident that in tracing this passage, every variation in the 

 tarsi, however slight, deserves particular attention. My collec- 

 tion of Columbidce, except in those of the new world, is not 

 sufiiciently extensive to inform me, whether the semi-naked tarsi, 

 and the emarginate bill of these birds will be found in any spe- 

 cies from the old world. They do not occur, however, either 

 in Col. chalcopfera, or in another kindred species which I 

 possess from Australia, both having the bill entire, and the sides 

 of the tarsi covered with minute, thin, and reticulated scales. 

 Should these characters prove constant, it Avill be somewhat 

 curious that yiuluconotm should be separated from its prototype 

 Thamnophilu^, by a distinction precisely similar. On the other 

 hand, conclusions cannot be drawn from such imperfect ma- 

 terials. 



-CH^MEPELIA. 



Rostrum gracile, integrum. 



Alee rotundatce.) remige prima brevi, 3''^, 4'^, et 5'^ fere cequalibuSj 



longissimis, pogoniis utrinque sub-emarginatis. 

 Cauda rotundata. 

 Pedes sub-breves ; paratarsiis plumatis. 



Bill slender, entire. Wings rounded, the first quill short ; third, 

 fourth, and fifth, nearly equal and longest, the webs on both 

 sides slightly emarginate. l^ail rounded. Feet rather short, 

 the sides of the tarsi feathered. 



Types. Columbce passcrina.j Linn., squamosa, Temm. 



