564 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — COLUMB^—PEBISTEBM. 



ordinary Pigeons, and the anatomy is conformable to a usual type, except that the lining of the 

 gizzard is ossified. 



4. The large Old World genera Treron and PUhpus, with which latter another large 

 genus, Carpophaga, is closely related, are a group of fruit-eating, arborioole species, with a 

 shok, stout beak, short, soft, broad-soled and extensively feathered feet, normally 14 rectrices, 

 and soft lustreless plumage, of which green is the characteristic color. Of such Treroni/nee or 

 TreronidcB, " 54 species are confiijed to the Austro-Malayan, while 28 inhabit the Indo- 

 Malayan, subregion : In India 14, and in Africa a species are found ; 30 inhabit the Pacific 

 Islands, and 8 occur in Australia- or New Zealand, while New Guinea has 14 species " 

 (Wallace). 



5. There are a large number of Pigeons of both the Old and New World, possessing neither 

 the peculiarities already stated nor those of the Columhince proper, to be presently given. 

 They are the Zenaidince and Pha/pmce of Bonaparte, with more or less lengthened naked tarsi, 

 and of more or less terrestrial habits. They are exemplified by such genera as Chamcepelid 

 and Melopelia with 12 rectrices, and Zeifaidwra with 14, of America; by Lopholamus with 12, 

 Geopelia, Phlogoenas and Ocyphaps with 14, and Phaps with 16, of the Old World. Nearly 

 all possess the ambiens and oil-gland, without coeca or gall-bladder. Having many points in 

 common, thgse ground-doves might form a subfamily Zenaidince or Phapi/nce, notwithstanding 

 the peculiarities of certain genera. Such a group would correspond to the two Bonapartian 

 subfamilies just named, and closely with the PhapmiB of Garrod. 



6. From the Zenaidmm thus composed our genus Starncenas differs more notably than 

 authors, excepting Garrod, seem to have appreciated. It is a pullet-like gi-ound-pigeon, with 

 long reticulate tarsus, short and somewhat elevated hind toe ; with coeca and without oil-gland 

 or ambiens muscle, the reverse of the rule in Zenaidmts as above noted. It can hardly be 

 referred to the totally different Treronince on the single circumstance of lacking the ambiens, 

 and must stand alone, in such division of the family as is here sketched, as type of a new sub- 

 family Starnoenadma. 



7. With the remaining Columbidce there is no difficulty, as they form a well character- 



■ ized restricted subfamily ColumhimtB. The leading genera are the square-tailed Columba, of 

 both Worlds ; the round-tailed Turbwr of the Old ; the wedge-tailed Macropygia of the Old, 

 matched by the wedge-tailed Eciopistes of the New. The species are arboreal, with short feet, 

 scuteUate or partly-feathered tarsi, and 12 tail-feathers; coeca, oU-gland, and ambiens present; 

 gall-bladder absent. 



Of the seven groups thus indica,ted, three are North American. They may readily be 

 distinguished as follows. 



Analysis of North American Subfamilies of Cohimbida. 



Tarsi scuteUate, feathered Columbinm 



Tarsi scuteUate, naked Zenaidina 



Tarsi reticulate, naked . . . .... Sta/manadinoi 



48. Subfamily COLUMBINE : Typical Pigeons. 



Feet small ; tarsus short, not longer than the'' lateral toes, scuteUate in front, feathered 

 above. Wing pointed, of 10 primaries. Tail variable in shape, of 12 rectrices. Bill typically 

 as described above. Arboreal. (See above for anatomical characters.) 



Analysis of Genera. 



TaU nearly even, much shorter than the wing, with broad obtuse feathers Columba 192 



Tail long, cuneate, equal to wings, with narrow tapering feathers Eciopistes 193 



192. COIjXJM'BA. (Lat. eohmba, a pigeon;) Bill short and comparatively stout, about half as 

 long as head. Wings pointed, 2d and 3d quills longest. No black spots on scapulars. Lateral 

 toes of about equal leugths, with claws about as long as middle toe without ; hind toe and claw 



