GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. I43 



orange-yellow. The length of this species is twelve and its breadth twenty-one inches ; the wing 

 measures six inches and three-quarters, and the tail four inches and a quarter. The female is 

 somewhat smaller in size, but closely resembles her mate in the coloration of the plumage. 



This Pigeon has been met with in Great Namaqua Land, Western Africa, and Abyssinia. 

 Temminck informs us that it frequents the settlements of the traders, and is constantly to be seen 

 perching perfectly motionless upon the trees during the heat of the day ; at the approach of the 

 rainy season, he tells us, it consorts with others of its species in large flocks, and wanders forth to 

 more southern portions of the continent : our own experience would, however, lead us to condemn 

 the latter statement as erroneous, and, indeed, all recent observations on this point prove that this 

 bird does not migrate. Lofty mimosa-trees, surrounded by bushes of Christ's-thorn, and interlaced 

 with the streaming tendrils of the cissus, are the favourite resorts of such of these birds as inhabit 

 regions where those trees are abundant, while such as occupy the mountain-valleys seek shelter amid 

 the luxuriant foliage of the tamarind-tree, or upon the well-covered branches of the lofty sycamore. 

 Occasionally this species is seen living in pairs, but most usually in small parties of from eight to 

 twenty birds. Even when thus associated, it is easy to distinguish the different couples, as the males 

 constantly perch and fly close to their mates, towards whom they exhibit the utmost tenderness, 

 endeavouring to excite their attention and admiration by agitating their wings, and caressing and 

 tending them with all the devotion exhibited by the Parrot for its mate. The flight of these Pigeons 

 is rapid, and accompanied by a harsh, shrill sound, produced by the violent motion of the wings as 

 they cleave the air. The voice is very unpleasing. Such of these birds as we observed did not utter 

 the cooing note common to many of their congeners. The stomachs of those we shot contained 

 berries of various kinds. Le Vaillant informs us that the Parrot Pigeon deposits her eggs in a bed 

 of moss and dry leaves within a hollow tree, but this statement we believe to be erroneous. Owing 

 to the extreme timidity of these birds, it is exceedingly difficult to obtain specimens. 



The DOVES {Cohimbiz) are distinguishable from the" above group by the peculiar form of their 

 delicate, moderate-sized beak, which is covered with a cere at its base, is slightly vaulted, and has a 

 hard, sharp tip. The comparatively high, slender foot is well adapted for walking firmly on the 

 ground ; the tail, composed of twelve feathers, is either rounded or straight at its extremity, and the 

 plumage not remarkable for its brilliancy. The members of this group occupy all parts of the globe, 

 Europe being particularly rich in species. 



TME RING-DOVE, WOOD PIGEON, OR CUSHAT. 



The Ring-dove, Wood Pigeon, or Cushat {Palumbus torquatus), has a large and strongly- 

 built body, comparatively long tail, and short feet. The plumage of the adult bird is of a deep blue 

 on the head, nape, and throat ; the upper part of the back and upper wing-covers are dark gre}ish 

 blue, and the lower portion of the back and rump light blue ; the breast is reddish grey, the centre of 

 the under side light greyish blue, and the lower belly white. The lower part of the throat is 

 decorated on each side with a glossy white spot, and gleams with metallic lustre ; the quills are slate- 

 grey and the tail-feathers slate-black, marked with an irregular stripe of lighter shade. The female 

 is recognisable from her mate by the inferiority of her size, and the young "birds by their comparati\-ely 

 pale plumage. In all, the eye is pale sulphur-yellow, the beak light yellow, with a red base, and the 

 foot blueish red. The length of the body is sixteen inches and a half, and the breadth twenty-eight 

 inches and a half; the wing measures nine and the tail six inches and a half 



The Ring-dove, so called on account of the white feathers that partially encircle the throat, is 

 the largest of all the wild Pigeons met with in Europe, the waim and temperate portions of which it 



