282 COLUMBID^E. 



and the tertials, a shade darker than the head ; the four or 

 five first feathers of both sets of wing-coverts white, or par- 

 tially white, which when the wing is closed produces only 

 a white line down the edge of the wing, but when they are 

 spread open these feathers then form a conspicuous white 

 patch, which is visible at a great distance ; the primary 

 quill-feathers are lead grey, with narrow white outer margins 

 and black shafts ; rump and upper tail-coverts bluish grey ; 

 tail-feathers twelve ; the pair in the centre of two colours, 

 the basal two-thirds bluish grey, the ends dark lead grey ; 

 the other ten feathers of three shades of grey, of which that 

 in the middle is the lightest in colour, and pearl grey ; the 

 chin bluish grey ; neck and breast vinous purple red ; belly, 

 vent, and under tail-coverts ash grey ; under surface of the 

 tail-feathers pearl grey in the middle, lead grey at both 

 ends ; legs and toes red ; claws brown. 



Whole length seventeen inches. From the carpal joint 

 to the end of the wing, ten inches : the first and second 

 quill-feathers very nearly equal in length, and the longest 

 in the wing, from which the others decrease gradually. 



The female does not differ much from the male, except 

 that she is a little smaller in size. 



Young birds of the year before their first moult have no 

 white on the sides of the neck, and the general colour of the 

 plumage is less pure and glossy. Varieties, spotted over 

 the body with white, are not uncommon, and are generally 

 very handsome birds. 



