72 PIGEON. 



B. — Columba erythroptera, Ind. Orn. ii. 598. 15. y. 



This seems to be between the two former, for it has the white 

 streak over the eye, as in the first described, and the fore parts to the 

 breast white, as in Var. A. The forehead, sides, and fore part of 

 the neck, are also white ; legs dull crimson ; belly and back reddish 

 black; tail rounded. 



This last was brought from the Island of Tanna ; and in the 

 collection of Sir Joseph Banks. 



89— MADAGASCAR PIGEON. 



Columba Madagaseariensis, lnd. Orn. ii. 264. Lin. i. 283. Gm. Lin. i. 779. Bris. i. 



140. t. 14. f. 1. Id. 8vo. i. 36. Nat. Misc. pi. 709. 

 Le Founingo, Buf. ii. 539. Id. Sonnin. vii. 249. Levail. Afr. vi. 72. pi. 266. Tern. 



Pig.fol. pi. 17. /d.Svo.i. p. 221. 

 Pigeon ramier bleu de Madagascar, PL enl. 11. 

 Madagascar Pigeon, Gen. St/n. iv. 640. 



LENGTH ten inches and a half. Bill and legs red ; eye in a 

 bare, naked skin ; plumage in general blue black, and very glossy; 

 the feathers of the neck narrower than the rest, with a mixture of 

 ash-colour; tail violet purple. 



The female differs from the male, in being less bright in colour. 



Inhabits Madagascar, called Founingo-mena-rabou ; seen also at 

 Cape of Good Hope, but not stationary ; comes in February, and 

 departs in September; frequents the great woods, on high, well 

 clothed trees, on which it scarcely could be discovered, did it not 

 betray itself by the cooing ; which is so loud, as to be compared to 

 the sound of a hunter's horn : is said to live both on fruits and 

 grain. 



