360 AVES. 
covered with a cartilaginous scale, which even forms a bulge at the 
base of the bill; the bony sternum is deeply and doubly emarginated, 
although somewhat differently; the crop extremely dilated, and the 
lower larynx furnished with butia single proper muscle; but there is 
no other membrane between the base of their toes than that which 
results from the continuity of the edges. Their tail is composed of 
twelve quills. They fly” well, live in a state of monogamy, build on 
trees or in fissures among rocks, and lay but few eggs at a time, 
generally two; it is true they lay frequently. The male assists his, 
mate in the business of brooding. They nourish their young by 
disgorging macerated grain into their crop. They form but one 
genus, which naturalists have attempted to’ divide into three sub- 
genera, from the greater or less strength of the bill and the propor- 
tions of the feet. The f 
° ‘i “% ; “ 
Cotumsi-GALLINEs, Vail. 
Approximate to the ordinary Gallinacez still more than the other 
subgenera, by their more elevated tarsi and their habit of living in 
flocks, seeking their food on the ground, and never perching. Their 
beak is thin and flexible. ' ’ 
One species is even allied to the Gallinacee by the caruncles 
and naked portions of skin that distinguish its head; it is the . | 
Columba carunculata, Tem. pl. 11; Columbi-galline, Vaill. 
278. 
A second is at all events connected with them by its size, 
which about equals that of the Turkey; it is the Crowned Pigeon 
of the Archipelago of India; Goura,Tem.; Colombihocco, Vaill.; 
Col. coronata, Gm.; Sonn. 104; Enl. 118; Tem., Pigeons, pl. 
1; Vieill., Galer. 197. Altogether of a slate-blue, with some 
chesnut and white on the wing; the head ornamented with a 
vertical tuft of long slender feathers. It is bred in the poultry 
yards at Java, &c., but does not propagate in,Europe.(1) 
A third claims an alliance with them, from the long pendent 
feathers which ornament its neck, like that of the Cock. It is 
the Pigeon de Nincombar; Col. nincombarica, L.3; Enl. 491, and is 
of the most brilliant golden-green, with a white tail. Found in 
several parts of India.(2) The ~ 
CoLumB2, 
Or Common Pigeons, have shorter feet than the preceding birds, 
(1) This large Crowned Pigeon constitutes the genus goura, or Loruraus of 
Vieill. Galer. pl. 197. ie.” 
(2) Species placed in this genus which are not, perhaps, sufficiently deter- 
