GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 
87 
ver-failing repast. It is here also that the small 
and beautiful Ptilinopi or turtelines, and the larger 
Carpophagae, or fruit-eating pigeons, are met with. 
It is in the odoriferous region of the Spice Islands, 
that these curious birds, the great crowned pigeon 
or gowra, and the Nicobar ground pigeon, remark- 
able for their respective deviation from the proper 
Columbine form, find a suitable abode ; besides a 
variety of other species belonging to different groups. 
Africa also abounds in many beautiful species, among 
which are several of the genus Vinago ; and to this 
continent belongs the Col. carunculata, Auct., a bird 
that makes as near an approach as any of the family 
to the true Rasorial groups. In both regions of the 
American Continent, we meet with a great variety 
of species, many of them possessing the typical form 
of the family, as represented by the ring-pigeon or 
the common pigeon ; others approaching, both . in 
form and habits, in a greater or less degree, to the 
typical Gallinaceoua Birds, and in a manner taking 
the place of, or representing certain forms of the 
Tetraonidae, of which that continent is destitute. 
In Europe, the species become gready reduced in 
number, and are confined to its warm and temperate 
districts, as it is only where tlie cerealia and legumi- 
nous plants flourish, and the oak and the beech bring 
their fruit to perfection, that the pigeons can find a 
regular supply of their appropriate food ; and even 
in many of those districts where they abound do- 
ling the summer and early autumnal months, they 
