8 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



the sole provision ever made. The two eggs (three have been said to have 

 been found, but never in my own experience) are creamy-white in colour, oval in 

 form, and measure on an average 1'4 inch by 1'2 inch. Incubation lasts from 

 seventeen to eighteen days, and both birds assist in the task, as they also do in 

 rearing the young. These are brought to maturity in a similar manner to those 

 of the preceding species, and are deserted as soon as they can leave the nest. 



Diagnostic characters. — Columba, with a rudimentary wing bar, no 

 white patches on the sides of the neck, the rump uniform in colour with the 

 back, and the axillaries and under wing coverts grey. Length, 13 inches. 



