31 



COLUMBA LAUEIVOEA. 



(CANARIAN PIGEON.) 



Columba laurivora, Webb & Berthelot, Orn. Can. p. 26 (1841). 



Trocaza laurivora (Webb & Berth.), Bp. Compt. Bend. Ac. Sc. 1856, p. 837 and p. 948 (1857). 



Figures notabiles. 



Webb & Berth, op. cit. pi. 3 (lower figure) ; Knip, Pig. ii. pi. 43 ; Bp. Icon, des Pigeons, 

 p. lxix. 



Ad. capite et collo sordide plumbeis, pileo et nucha viridescenti nitentibus : corpore supra saturate schistaceo, 

 alis supra bruuuescentioribus : remigibus saturate fumoso-brunneis : cauda. ad basin sordide schistaceo- 

 cinerea, pallidiore quam in Columba bollii, dimidio apicali pallide cinereo-alba : guise et gutturis plumis 

 ad basin rufescenti-vinaceis viridi apicatis : colli lateribus et collo postico viridescenti- et purpurascenti- 

 iridescentibus : corpore subtus rufescenti-vinaceo fere aeneo : subcaudalibus sordide scbistaceis : rostro, 

 pedibus et regione oculari corallinis : iride straminea. 



Adult (Canaries). Head, neck, and back dull dove-slate, crown and nape glossed with green; sides of the 

 neck glossed with purplish red and green ; upper surface of the wings slate, with a brownish tinge ; 

 quills dull dark brown; tail dull brownish ashy grey, much paler than in C. bollii, on the central 

 portion gradually becoming paler, until the tip is light grey; on the under surface of the tail the 

 terminal portion is whitish ; feathers on the throat reddish at the base and tipped with greenish ; rest 

 of the underparts coppery red, the under tail-coverts only being dull slaty blue ; bill red, darker at the 

 tip; legs coral-red; iris straw-colour. Total length about 14 - 5 inches, culmen 1*2, wing 8 - 6, tail 62, 

 tarsus 1*5, middle toe with claw 1/82. 



But very little is known respecting this Pigeon ; and so far as I can ascertain, there seem to be 

 only two examples preserved in public museums, one the type at Paris, and the second in the 

 British Museum. Although at the first glance this species tolerably closely resembles Columba 

 bollii, yet a careful comparison at once proves their specific distinctness — the chief points of 

 difference being that the present species has the upper parts paler and browner, the head glossed 

 with green and not with purple ; the underparts are redder, and the tail is much paler, has no 

 band on it, but the terminal portion is dull greyish white. Though so rare in collections, it 

 would appear to be tolerably common in the Western Canaries ; but having been so constantly 

 confused with Columba trocaz and Columba bollii, it is impossible to state with any degree of 

 certainty which islands it inhabits; it would, however, appear to be confined to the western 

 group. Whether the Pigeon referred to by Dr. Bolle as being found on the island of Gomera is 

 the present species or C. bollii it is difficult to say ; but Messrs. Webb and Berthelot refer the 

 Pigeon of that island to the present species, though at the same time they confused all three 

 species under the name of C. laurivora ; but, as elsewhere stated, they appear to have met with 

 true C. laurivora in the Western Canaries. 



2q 



