20 



PARABOLIC PIGEON". 



This species is one of the discoveries of the 

 ceiebrated naturalist and traveller Le Vaillant, 

 whose splendid work on the African birds is wor- 

 thy the industry of such an assiduous and enter- 

 prising individual. It measures about fifteen inches 

 in length from the tip of the beak to the extremity 

 of the tail : its prevailing colours are a rich pur- 

 plish blue, more or less dark, and a reddish 

 vinaceous ; the latter colour predominating on the 

 front, the top of the back, and the whole of the 

 under parts, that on the upper part of the back 

 and the breast being brightest: the feathers on 

 the latter being blackish in the centre, gives it 

 the appearance of being spotted : the top of the 

 head and the occiput are of a grey -blue : the lesser 

 and middle wing-coverts are adorned with a few 

 whitish spots of a round shape ; the other coverts 

 are the same, with triangular spots : the tarsi are 

 covered with feathers in part, the rest is naked 

 and of a clear yellow : the feet and claws are also 

 yellow : the beak is of a very deep yellow, and the 

 membrane at the base of the beak is orange : the 

 irides are brown orange. 



This Pigeon is found in the forests of the Au- 

 teniquois : during the season of incubation, the 

 male and female are always found in pairs ; but 

 at other times, they associate in flocks : they 

 construct their nests like the Stock Dove, and 

 produce ten white eggs : this species has a very 

 remarkable flight, not going in a straight line, 

 but upon commencing its route, it describes a para- 

 bola, and continues forming a series of arcs during 



