Order IV. COLUMBtE. 
Family I. Culumbidje. 
The third Subfamily, 
GOURINiE, or Ground Pigeons, 
have the Bill moderate, more or less slender, straight, with the apical portion generally strong and 
vaulted ; the AVings moderate and pointed ; the Tail moderate, and rounded on the sides ; the Tarsi as 
long as, or longer than, the middle toe, and robust ; the Toes long, and margined on their sides with a 
membrane, and the hind toe usually long and slender ; the Claws short and curved. 
COLUMBINA Spix.* 
Bill shorter than the head, very slender, straight, with the tip vaulted and arched, the gonys 
lengthened and curved upwards ; the nostrils lateral, membranous, and linear. Wings moderate, 
with the first to the third quills equal and longest. Tail lengthened, and rounded on the sides. Tarsi 
shorter than the middle toe, and robust. Toes moderate, margined on their sides with a membrane, and 
the lateral ones nearly equal ; the hind toe as long as the outer one ; the claws short and curved. 
These pretty little birds arc peculiar to the warmer parts of South America. 
1. C. picui (Temm.) Pig. et Gall. p. i35., Knip et Prev. Pig. 
t. 30. 
2. C. strepitans Spix, Av. Bras. ii. t. 75. f. 1. 
3. C. campestris Spix, Av. Bras. ii. t. 75. f. 2., Temm. PI. col. 
, 341. f. 1. 
4. C. erythrothorax Meyen, Acad. Nat. Curios. 1833. t. 26. — 
Columba monticola Tschudi. 
5. C. gracilis (Tschudi), Wiegm. Arch. 1843. 385. 
6. C. »iefoc/a (Tschudi), Wiegm. Arch. 1843. 385. 
Zen AID A Pr. Bonap.-f 
Bill straight and slender, with the tip of the upper mandible vaulted and arched ; the nostrils lateral, 
and near the middle of the bill. Wings long, with the first quill shorter than the second, which is the 
longest. Tail moderate and much rounded. Tarsi robust, shorter than the middle toe, with the toes 
margined on their sides with a membrane. Toes long, free at the base, with the lateral toes nearly equal ; 
the hind toe long and slender. 
The islands of the West Indies and the Galapagos are the localities of these small pigeons ; they are always found 
on the ground, where they arc most commonly observed dusting themselves, and seeking for their food. When flushed, 
they produce a whistling noise with their wings. 
* Established by Spix (^Avium Bras.') in 1825. 
t Established by the Prince of Canino in his List of the Birds of Europe and North America, which was published in 1838. 
