GOURIN.E. 
with exceeding rapidity in an opposite direction, and crouch down either on the bare plain, or among any scanty 
herbage that appears to offer the least shelter. They rise from the ground with extreme quickness, making a loud 
buzzing noise with their wings, and generally spinning off, not, as might be supposed, to another part of the plain, but 
to the horizontal branch of a large tree, on which they immediately squat down quite flat, in the same line with the 
branch ; the flight is also like that of the partridge, and it also assimilates in the arrow-like direction of its course to 
the nearest tree, terminating with a skimming motion of the wings before alighting. Their chief food is the seeds of 
various grasses and other small plants, to which are added at some seasons insects and berries. The two eggs are 
deposited on the bare ground or in a small smoothed down tuft of grass, forming a slight hollow. 
1. G. Smithii (Jard. & Selby) Gould, Jard. & Selby's lU. Om. 3. G. plumifern Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1842. 19., B. of Austr. pi. 
pi. 104., Gould, B. of Austr. pi. I 
2. G. scripta (Temm.) Linn. Trans, xiii. 127., PI. col. 18?., j 
Knip et Prev. Pig. t. 33. — Columba inscripta Wagl. 
Cal.enas.* 
Bill strong, long, the apical half vaulted, much curved to the tip, and the sides compressed; the 
nostrils lateral, and near the middle of the bill. Wings long and pointed, with the third quill the 
longest. Tail moderate and nearly even. Tarsi very robust, rather longer than the middle toe, naked, 
and covered with large scales in front. Toes lengthened, strong ; lateral ones nearly equal, and covered 
with transverse scales. The base of the upper mandible furnished with a wattle, and the feathers of the 
neck lengthened and pendulous. 
These birds of the Indian archipelago, which are usually found on the ground, where they seek their food, run 
with great quickness, but they generally perch upon the lower branches of trees when they take rest. The nest is 
made upon the ground; and the female lays several eggs. 
1. C. nicobarica (Linn.) Edwards's Birds, pi. SSQ., Le Vaill. Ois. 3. C? luzonica (Scop.) Sonn. Voy. t. 20, 21. — Columba cruenta 
d'Afr. 279-, PI. enl. 491-1 Temm. Pig. t. 2. — Columba gallus Wagl. Gmel. Temm. Pig. t, 8.; Columba nivea Scop.; Columba san- 
2. C. Gouldice (Gray) Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. guinea Gmel. Temm. Pig. t. 9. 
Verrulia F/em.f 
Bill slender. Wings long and rounded. Tail short and rounded. Tarsi moderate, naked, and 
covered with hexagonal scales. The base of the bill, a pendulous wattle under the throat, and a narrow 
and less pendulous band on the sides of the neck, naked. 
The typical species of this division is only found in South Africa. The eggs, which are generally six to eight, are 
deposited upon a few twigs and stems of dried grasses, which are placed together in a hollow depression in the ground, 
and the hatching of these is the occupation of both sexes. The young immediately follow their parents, who keep them 
together by their peculiar cry, and they seek for them the larva? of ants and insects, which form their first food. As 
they increase in size and age, they search like the adults for all sorts of grain, berries, insects, &c. 
V. carunculata (Temm.) Flem. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t, 278., Temm. Pig. t. ii. 
* This division was established by me in 1840 {I Ant of Genera, &c p. 59- )• 
+ Dr. Fleming established this division (in his Phil, of Zool. ii. p. 232.) in 1822. 
