192 
PERISTEKIN®. 
pigeons ; the tarsus usually exceeding the middle toe 
in length, and the feet are better adapted for walk- 
ing than grasping; the claws are obtuse, and slight- 
ly arched. I’he hallux shorter, and its relative posi- 
tion different from that of the arboreal species. Their 
plumage is plainer and more uniform in tint than 
that of some of the preceding groups, though it still 
boasts of brilliancy in those species which connect 
them with other forms. They live almost entirely 
upon the ground, and many of the species run with 
great celerity, on which account they have been call- 
ed Partridge Pigeons. Their flight, which is usu- 
ally low, is efiected with greater exertion than that 
of the Pigeons, and is never long sustained. 
This division contains a great number of species, 
and when better investigated, will be found divisible 
into a variety of minor groups or genera. Mr Swain- 
son has already characterized two, viz. Chcemcpelia, 
which embraces the diminutive Ground Doves of 
America, and Peristera, which contains the smaller 
Columbi-GalUnes of the French naturalists, distin- 
guished by their lengthened tarsus and gallinaceous 
habits, and which are found inhabiting Africa, as 
well as America and its islands. We also include 
in this division the Bronze-winged Dove of Austra- 
lia, and other kindred species, such as the Columba 
elegans of Temminck, and Columba picaia of Wag- 
ler, to which we propose to give the generic name 
of Phaps, an appellation formerly bestowed by the 
Greeks upon some species or variety of pigeon. 
