2 INDIAN PIGEONS AND DOVES 



Pigeons, which frequent trees principally, but can also wait and run 

 well ; and the Peristeridae or Doves, which are much given to walking 

 on the ground. Following Blanford, I unite aU Indian Pigeons and 

 Doves in the one family Columbidae, which contains the structural 

 features of the Order Columbae in so far as that refers to the regions 

 with which we are dealing. 



The internal characters are as follows : Palate schizognathous, 

 nostrils schizorhinal ; basipterygoid processes present ; dorsal vertebrae 

 heterocoelus, cervical vertebrae fifteen in number ; sternum with four 

 deep posterior notches, the inner pair of which may be converted into 

 foramina ; the external lateral processes are much shorter than the 

 internal ; furcula U-shaped. Deep plantar tendons united with a 

 vinculum, the hallux connected with the flexor longus hallucis, and 

 three front toes with the flexor perforans digitorum. Ambiens muscle 

 sometimes present ; the femoro-caudal, semitendinosus, accessory semi- 

 tendinosus, and accessory femoro-caudal all present in Indian species ; 

 oil-gland nude or wanting ; caeca and gall-bladder sometimes present, 

 sometimes absent ; both carotids always present. 



The external characteristics are : Upper mandible having the most 

 slender portion posterior to the tip, the basal portion, which contains 

 the nostrils, is covered with a cere or soft skin ; the tip is swoUen, hard 

 and convex, giving the appearance of having a small knob. The four 

 toes are on the same level, webless, with the hallux or hind toe weU 

 developed ; the soles are broad, but differ in degree in this respect in 

 different subfamihes, being most greatly expanded in the Treronidae 

 or Green Pigeons. Wings aquincubital, with eleven primaries and the 

 fifth secondary wanting, long and pointed A\'ith close-set coverts. 

 Spinal feather-tract well defined on the neck and forked on the 

 interscapulary region ; after-shaft either not present or only 

 rudimentary. 



