ZENAIDA DOVE. 366 
ZENAIDA DOVE, (Columba Zenaida.) 
PLATE XVII.—Fic. 2. 
Columba Zenaida, Nob. Add. Orn. U. S. in Journ. Acad. Phil.— Id. Cat. Birds 
U. S. sp. 198, in Contr. Macl. Lyc. Ph. i. p. 22.—Id. Syn. Birds U. S. sp. 
198, in Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. Y. ii. p. 119.—Id. Suppl. in Zool. Journ. 
Lond. v. p. 6.—My Collection. 
COLUMBA? ZEN AID A.—BONAPARTE. 
Tsar name of dove is not commonly used to designate a 
systematic group, but is employed for all the small pigeons 
indiscriminately, whilst the larger doves are known as pigeons. 
Even this distinction of size, however, does not seem to be 
agreed upon, as we find authors calling the larger species doves 
and the smaller ones pigeons, and sometimes even applying 
both appellations to different sexes or ages of the same 
species, as in the case of the common American pigeon, 
Columba migratoria. This extensive family of birds—so re- 
markable for richness and splendour of colours—so important 
as contributing largely to supply the wants of mankind— 
so interesting as forming so perfect a link between the two 
great divisions of the feathered tribes—has been divided on 
more philosophical principles into three groups, which some 
naturalists consider as genera, and others as subgenera or 
sections. Of these, two only are found represented in America ; 
the third, a very natural group, being confined to Africa and 
the large eastern islands of the old world. That to which the 
present bird, and all the North American species but one, 
_belong, is the most typical of all, being characterised by a 
straight and slender bill, both mandibles of which are soft and 
flexible, and the upper turgid towards the end; by their short 
tarsi, divided toes, and long, acute wings, with the first pri- 
mary somewhat shorter than the second, which is the longest. 
This group (the true pigeons and doves) is, however, so 
numerous in species, that we cannot but wonder that it should 
still remain comparatively untouched by the reforming hand 
of our contemporaries; especially seeing that as good reasons 
