846 Drafts for a Fauna Indica. [No. 168. 



Sub-fam. Treroninje. 



The members of this group are eminently frugivorous and arbo- 

 real, scarcely ever descending to the ground, and some perhaps never, 

 unless to drink ;* and in general they are of a green colour, which 

 renders them difficult to discern amid the foliage of trees. They 

 are distinguished from other pigeons (with the sole known exception of 

 Ectopistes carolinensisj by having constantly fourteen tail-feathers, 

 instead of twelve, f In form of bill, they present a gradation from 

 the strongest beak that occurs throughout the order, to a feeble organ, 

 soft and tumid to near its tip, which alone is corneous ; but the gape, 

 especially in the latter case, is very capacious. The tarsi are short, 

 stout, and more or less feathered ; and the toes (except in one 

 sub-genus) are remarkably broad- soled, and are furnished with strong 

 and sharp claws, commonly much hooked ; hence they have great power 

 of clasping, or holding on to the small branches of trees, while strain- 

 ing to pluck the fruit or berries from the terminal sprays ; so that, 

 when feeding, these birds may be commonly observed to lean over and 

 downward so far as to be inverted, and then draw themselves back 

 by the unaided muscular strength of the extremities. The flight of all 

 is powerful and rapid. Three strongly marked genera occur, numerous 

 species of which inhabit the warm regions of the Old World, Australia, 

 and Polynesia ; but from America they are wholly excluded. 



Genus TRERON, Vieillot : Vinago, Cuvier. {Hurrial and Hurrwa, 

 H. ; Hurtel, Beng. ; N'goo, Arracan). The Hurrials. 



In this genus may be observed the gradation in form of bill, that has 

 been adverted to, in its full extent ; but all the strong- billed species 

 are here included. The plumage is blent and glossless, and almost 

 without exception of a lively green, varied with ashy, and with a 

 stripe of bright yellow on the wings margining their coverts ; while the 

 males are commonly further adorned with a deep maronne huej on the 



* An individual of Treron bicincta, has been seen feeding on the ground; but 

 such instances are extremely rare. Vide, also, description of Tr. nipalensis. 



f Perhaps, however, certain of the ground pigeons may also have more than twelve 

 tail-feathers; which remains to be ascertained. In the domestic breed of fan-tails, the 

 number is abnormally multiplied to as many as thirty or more. It is very remarkable 

 that of the two species of Ectopistes, which are nearly allied to each other, one should 

 have fourteen tail-feathers, while the other— the celebrated passenger pigeon of 

 North America, should possess but the usual number— twelve. This fact was observed 

 and recorded by the Prince of Canino. 



% This hue, in different shades of vinous, or claret-colour, occurs in a great, 

 number of Columbidee, and has been remarked to be almost peculiar to the tribe. 



