162 
COLUMBA ZENAIDA. 
paler on the sides of the head and neck ; under the 
ears is a small bright rich and deep violaceous spot* 
rivalling the amethyst in splendour; and above this 
a similar smaller one, not very distinguishable ; the 
sides of the neck before the bend of the wing exhibit 
splendid golden violaceous reflections, slightly passing 
into greenish in different lights ; the scapulars are 
spotted with black, the spots being large and roundish ; 
the exterior wing-coverts, spurious wing, and quill- 
feathers, are blackish ; the primaries are edged with 
white externally, and, with the exception of the outer 
ones, at tip also ; the secondaries are broadly terminated 
with white ; the chin is yellowish white ; the whole 
inferior surface is bright vinaceous, paler on the throat, 
and gradually passing into richer on the belly; the 
flanks and under w r ing-co verts are delicate lilac, and the 
under tail-coverts are mixed with the same colour, some 
of the longest being entirely lilac, which is also found 
at the base of the plumage on the belly and rump ; the 
wings are six inches and a quarter long, reaching within 
one inch of the tip of the tail ; the primaries are entire 
on both vanes ; the first is longer than the fourth, the 
second longest, though scarcely longer than the third ; 
the tail is four and a half inches long, composed of 
twelve broad, full, rounded feathers, extending but one 
inch beyond their coverts ; it is nearly even, and of the 
colour of the body, with a broad black band at two- 
thirds of its length, obsolete on the two middle feathers* 
(which are of the colour of the body,) purer on the 
three exterior ; the lateral feathers are pearl gray for 
half an inch towards the tip, the outer plume being 
moreover of that colour on the outer vane; all the 
tail-feathers are blackish on the inferior surface to 
within three quarters of an inch of their tips. The 
feet are red ; the nails blackish ; the tarsus measures 
three quarters of an inch in length. 
The female is very similar to the male in size and 
colour ; the head, however, is but slightly tinged with 
vinaceous, the golden violet reflections of the neck are 
not quite so vivid, and the inferior surface of a paler 
