OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 17 



Family PERI5TERID^.— The Ground Pigeons. 



The birds in the present family are characterised by having the tarsus equal 

 to or longer than the middle toe. The number of tail-feathers varies from twelve 

 to twenty. As in the typical Pigeons, the bill is not hooked, and the nostrils are 

 linear and parallel to the tomia of the upper mandible. Count Salvadori divides 

 the present family into no less than seven subfamilies ; but it seems to be 

 doubtful whether the characters relied upon for their separation are, in some 

 cases at any rate, of more than generic value. 



Subfamily TURTURIN^.— The Turtle Doves. 



The Turtle Doves may be distinguished from the other members of the present 

 family by the absence of hackles from the neck, as well as by the more or less 

 metallic black spot below the ear coverts, which is characteristic of the Zenaidinse 

 alone. They are further distinguished by the absence of metallic spots from the 

 wings. The tail, which is rather broad, consists of twelve feathers ; the metatarsus 

 is naked on the upper portion ; and the neck is decorated with a more or less 

 distinct dark collar of scale-like feather patches on either side. This subfamily 

 contains but one genus, although it has been subdivided by Count Salvadori into 

 five tolerably well-marked subgenera. 



