R A S E E S. 



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3. Order RASORES.— The Gallinaceous Birds. 



1. Family COLIJMBID^.— The Pigeons and Doves. 



1. Genus COLUMBA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 279 (1766). 



1. CoLUMBA viTiENSis, Q HOT/ and Gaimard. 

 Columba vitiensis, QuoY AND GtAIMard, Voy. Astrolabe, Zoology, I, p. 246 (1830). 



Voy. Astrolabe, Ois. Plate XXVIII ; Reichenbach, Vollst. Naturg. 

 Birds, Plate CXXXIX, fig. 1288. 



Form. — Strong and robust ; bill rather short ; wing long, broad ; 

 second and third primaries longest and nearly equal ; outer webs of 

 quills wide ; tail moderate, truncate or slightly rounded, containing 

 twelve feathers. Legs short ; tarsus bare, showing in front about 

 six transverse scales ; toes but slightly padded ; claws rather weak, 

 curved. 



Dimensions. — Adult male. Total length (of skin), from tip of bill 

 to end of tail, about fourteen inches ; wing, nine and a half inches ; 

 tail, five inches; tarsus, one inch; bill, one and one-fourth of an inch. 



Colors. — Adult male. Entire plumage dark bluish ash-color, 

 deepest on the upper parts, and lightest on the abdomen, ventral region, 

 and inferior coverts of the tail, and nearly black on the quills and tail. 

 Large space on the throat, extending around under the eye, white. 

 Head above, and neck, with a beautiful metallic purple lustre, changing 

 to fine green in some lights ; back, rump, and breast, metallic green ; 

 tertiary quills, wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts, distinctly edged 

 and tipped with the same. Bill and feet pale. 



Younger. Like the adult, but with the head above, neck, rump, 

 and breast, with a comparatively faint metallic green lustre. Bill and 



