ORDER GALLINiE. 275 



true gallinae, it approaches more in manners to the genuine 

 pigeons than any other species of its own subgenus. 



This bird is a native of New Guinea, and of various isles 

 of the Eastern Ocean. It requires pains and difficulty to 

 accustom it to our climates. 



The Nicobar Pigeon is distinguished by its brilliant 

 plumage ; but it wants the elegant shape which distinguishes 

 the true columbae. Its manners are very analogous to those 

 of the gallinaceous birds. It remains, by preference, generally 

 on the ground. It runs with great celerity, and constructs 

 its nest like the partridge. It never perches, except to pass 

 the night. Its cooing is hoarse and dull, — -not nearly so agree- 

 able as the voice of the ringdove. It is a stupid and quiet 

 bird, and might possibly be domesticated. It inhabits 

 Sumatra, Nicobar, and other islands of the Eastern Ocean. 



Of the Ordinary Pigeons, indigenous to our European 

 climates, the Ring Pigeon is the largest ; it does not inhabit 

 Europe at all seasons of the year ; for the majority of these 

 birds emigrate in November, and return at the commence- 

 ment of March : in the more northern countries, they do not 

 reappear until April. Their migration always takes place 

 fifteen days or three weeks after that of the stock doves. 

 They do not fly with so much celerity as the latter ; but they 

 rise higher, and their flocks are not so numerous. In Italy 

 and all the south, the species is sedentary. They prefer pine 

 and larch trees to the forests of oak and beech. 



This pigeon has two broods annually ; the first is in April, 

 the second in July. They fix their nests on the tops of the 

 highest trees. The eggs are two, and very seldom three in 

 immber, the male and female sit alternately, and the incu- 

 bation lasts sixteen or eighteen days. 



The ringdove is fond of perching on the high branches 

 of some dead tree, a habit which it shares with almost all 

 birds of a wild and distrustful character. From this position, 



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