274 CLASS AVES. 



The bird now under consideration approaches, in its ex- 

 terior, port, and manners, the nearest to the true gallinae of 

 all the pigeons. The form of the bill is like that of the latter 

 birds, and the nature of the feathers ; but in the red and 

 naked wattle, the long tarsi, the rounded body, the pendant 

 carriage of the tail like the partridge, and the rounded wings, 

 it entirely corresponds with the former. These characters 

 constitute this bird a proper link between the pigeons and 

 the gallinae. 



The carunculated pigeon nestles on the ground, in a small 

 hollow, covered with grass, &c., and the female lays six or 

 eight eggs, of a reddish- white ; the mutual incubation of 

 both parents is a characteristic trait of columba. The little 

 ones, covered with a reddish-grey down, run immediately on 

 quitting the shell ; they do not leave the father and mother, 

 who lead them continually about, and shelter them from cold 

 or sunshine with their wings. The nymphse of ants, dead 

 insects, and worms, constitute their earliest food, and after- 

 wards all kinds of grain, berries, and insects. They do not 

 separate into couples until the season of reproduction. This 

 species is native to South Africa. 



The Great Crowned Pic/eon, or Goura, has, perhaps, a still 

 greater external analogy to the gallinae, at all events, in size ; 

 it even may be considered to stand isolated in its own division. 

 It bears such a resemblance to the hoccos, that it wants 

 nothing but their bill to represent one of them completely ; 

 but in manners, as well as in some points of conformation, it 

 is closely allied to the pigeons. It has their bill and voice ; 

 like them it lays but two eggs ; feeds the young by disgorg- 

 ing the aliment ; and builds its nest on the summits of trees. 

 This last habit removes it not only from the galhnae, but also 

 from its own division. Thus we find, upon the whole, that 

 while the goura has the strongest external resemblance to the 



