PIGEON. 25 



and of a singular construction, appearing as a polished surface, in 

 the same manner as the appendages of the wing feathers of the 

 Waxen Chatterer, or hackles of the Wild Indian Cock ; round the 

 eve a naked, deep redskin; back, wings, and belly, deep blue; 

 rump and tail deep crimson ; shafts of the two middle feathers deep 

 blue; legs bluish black. 



Said to inhabit the Isle of France, or Mauritius ; and the flesh 

 supposed to be poisonous; though some think it not to be a native 

 of that place, but brought there from the Sechelle Islands. 



16. - RUFF-NECKED PIGEON. 



Ramier herisse, Levail. Afr. vi. p. 74. No. 267. 



SIZE of the Biset Pigeon ; length thirteen inches. Bill black, 

 with a pale tip ; top of the head, and the neck as far as the breast, 

 covered with long, loose, slender feathers, of a whitish colour, with 

 brown edges; these are loosely webbed, and the end of each con- 

 tinued in a long, naked thread ; base of the bill red, and bare, 

 continuing on each side round the eyes ; on the crown these feathers 

 are shorter than those of the neck, and stand nearly erect, as a crest; 

 the others fall loosely over the neck, breast, and beginning of the 

 wings; back and wings deep indigo blue, approaching to black ; 

 beneath from the breast inclining to purple ; and the tail, which is 

 two inches long, purplish violet, with a reddish tinge ; base and 

 sides bluish ; the wings reach to about the middle of it; legs dusky, 

 with a violet tinge. The female is smaller, and the colours more dull. 



Inhabits the Molucca Islands; according to M. Levaillant, is 

 found also at the Cape of Good Hope, but as a bird of passage only, 

 for it does not breed there ; met with about the Great Namaquas, 

 chiefly in woods ; but not unfrequently in the plains in great flocks ; 

 feeds on berries and seeds: said also to be found in Senegal. 



VOL. VIII. E 



