THE COLUMB^ 209 



wing feathers, which floats streamer-hke behind 

 as it flies. 



The Columbae are everywhere, and consist of two 

 large pigeons, a green and a speckled variety, and of 

 at least four doves. These beautiful, graceful birds 

 in one form or another are with you throughout the 

 African day. They awaken you at dawn with their 

 pleasant cooing, usually on the way back from the 

 morning drink, and before they hie them to the 

 native millet gardens, where it must be confessed 

 they do a good deal of damage. It has been stated 

 that the large Stock Dove [Columba phoeonota) con- 

 fines itself to high altitudes, but this is inaccurate, 

 as I have shot this shy variety in the forests of 

 Shupanga on a level with the River Zambezi. He 

 is a splendid creature, considerably larger than the 

 English wood pigeon, with very distinct speckles 

 on his pinky-grey plumage. There are, in every 

 part of the country, multitudes of pretty ring 

 doves, and a very small fruit-eating pigeon, whose 

 wing covers of vivid green flash past you like 

 jewels when he is in the air. His prevailing 

 colours are hard to give an idea of, but alternate 

 between bright sea-green and vivid golden bronze. 

 His black wing feathers are edged with dark 

 yeUow. 



Mention must not be overlooked of that cheerful 

 omnipresent passerine the ubiquitous Scapulated 

 Crow. He is everywhere, and almost as full of 

 diablerie as Mark Twain's Blue Jay. The black 

 plumage which this bird shares with all the members 

 of his order is greatly relieved by the white collar 

 of feathers which surrounds his neck. His cawing 



14 



