]98 
Genus CH^MEPELIA, — St^AiNsoN, 
The characters of which are : — Bill slender, en- 
tire, the upper mandible gently deflected at the tip. 
Wings rounded, the first and fourth feathers of equal 
length, and a little shorter than the second and third, 
tvhich are also equal ; second, third, and fourth fea- 
thers, with their exterior web sinuated, the fourth 
with the middle of its inner web strongly toothed. 
Tail rounded. Tarsi of nearly equal length n ith the 
middle toe. The paratarsia or exterior side of the 
tarsus with a line of small feathers. 
Type Columha Talpicoii Temminck. The mem- 
bers of this genus are natives of Continental Ameri- 
ca, and its islands, and, with the exception of the 
Culumha Hottentotla of Temminck, an African and 
nearly allied form, are the most diminutive of the 
Pigeon tribe, several of the species scarcely exceed- 
ing a sparrow in bulk. The wmgs are rounded, 
though of ample extent, and the quill-feathers very 
large and broad ; and, in all the species we have 
examined, the fourth feather exhibits a remarkable 
tooth or projecting notch near the middle of the in- 
ner web. They inhabit the confines of woods and 
bushy tracts, anil are generally seen in pairs or small 
families. They live much upon the ground, where 
