Pigeons of the Malay Archipelago. 367 



perhaps, in the struggle for existence which is always most 

 severe between creatures of a similar mode of life, prevent the 

 increase of the smaller fruit-eaters ; and we may thus understand 

 how it is that in many of these islands Parrots and Pigeons form 

 such a large proportion of the avifauna, and are by far the 

 most prominent and characteristic of the living creatures that 

 inhabit them. 



The classification of the Pigeons is a very difficult subject, and 

 can probably only be satisfactorily effected by an examination of 

 the anatomy of all the genera. They may, however, be very 

 conveniently grouped into three great families : — 1st. The Tre- 

 ronida, or Fruit-Pigeons, which have short legs with broad- 

 soled, grasping feet, feed entirely on fruits, and never descend 

 upon the ground ; 2nd. The Columbida, or true Pigeons and 

 Doves, which have larger feet and slenderer toes, and feed either 

 on trees or on the ground ; 3rd. The Gouridce, or Ground-Pigeons, 

 which have generally longer legs, feed always on the ground, run 

 quickly, and only ascend trees to roost. 



The Treronidce are entirely confined to the eastern hemisphere. 

 A few species of the genus Treron are found in Africa, but the 

 greater portion inhabit India and the western Malay Islands. 

 These are beautiful birds, almost always of a yellowish or ashy- 

 green colour, variegated with patches of bright yellow, purple, 

 or chestnut, which are less vivid or altogether absent in the 

 females. This genus may be considered to be almost confined 

 to the Indian region, fourteen species occurring in India, ten in 

 the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, and three in the 

 Philippines ; but on passing into the Australian region they 

 diminish rapidly, two, which scarcely differ from those in the 

 other islands, being found in Celebes, one in the Moluccas, and 

 two in the islands between Java and Timor. In the next genus, 

 Ptilonopus, the distribution is reversed, since New Guinea is 

 their metropolis, whence they diminish in every direction, only 

 one species occurring in Borneo and Sumatra, and the utmost 

 limits of the genus being reached in the southern part of the 

 Malay peninsula. In the Pacific islands and in the Moluccas 

 they abound, many even of the smallest islands having their 

 peculiar species. These are the smallest and most beautiful of 



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