GROUND DOVE. 
635 
about the year 1798, while he was passing through New 
Jersey, near Newark, the flocks continued to pass for at 
least two hours without cessation ; and he learnt from the 
neighbouring inhabitants, that, in descending upon a large 
pond to drink, those in the rear alighting on the backs of 
the first that arrived (in the usual order of their move- 
ments on land to feed), pressed them beneath the surface^ 
so that tens of thousands were thus drowned. They 
were likewise killed in great numbers at the roost with 
clubs. 
The Wild or Passenger Pigeon is about 16 inches long, and 24 in 
alar extent. The bill black. Iris fiery orange. Legs and feet lake 
red. Lower part and sides of the neck with a metallic changeable hue 
of gold, green, and purplish crimson, the last color prevalent. 
Scapular region spotted with a few black blotches. Quill-feathers 
dusky. — Female somewhat shorter, the changeable cervical spot 
smaller and less brilliant. 
Subgenus. — Goura. ( Bonap .) 
The bill slender, flexible, scarcely turgid at tip ; the upper man- 
dible furrowed at the sides. Nostrils small, orbicular, situated in 
the furrow. Tarsi rather long. Wings short, rounded, and concave, 
the 1st primary shorter than the 5th, the 3d longest. — Tail of 12 
feathers. 
These birds make some approaches to the Gallinaceous order. The 
greater number dwell on the ground, where they breed. The young 
of some of the species are said even to run as soon as hatched, and 
seek out their own sustenance. 
GROUND DOVE. 
(Columba passerina, Wilson, vi. p. 15. pi. 46. fig. 2. &3. [male and 
female.] Phil. Museum, No.J 
Sp. Charact. — The scapulars with dark spots ; tail rounded, lateral 
feathers black, tipped and edged with white ; bill black at tip, 
and with the feet yellow. 
