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PIGEONS AND SAND-GEO USE. 
As a well - known representative of the fourth subfamily 
Cape Dove. phabince) of this assemblage, may be mentioned the Cape dove 
(PEna capensis), which is the sole member of its genus. The subfamily includes 
a dozen genera, and about double that number of species, all of which are confined 
to the Old World; their essential characters being their relatively large size, and 
the presence of blue or green spots or patches on the wings. In the first four 
genera there are two dark bands across the rump. The Cape dove, which may be 
recognised by its long wedge-shaped tail, with the middle feathers more than twice 
as long as the outer pair, ranges all over Tropical and Southern Africa, as well as 
Madagascar and Arabia. It occurs in pairs, and is chiefly found on the ground; 
BLUE-BEARDED CUBAN DOVES Bat. size). 
when disturbed, seeking shelter in low trees and bushes, but rarely in larger trees. 
The nest is placed in a low bush, and the two white eggs have a rosy tint, caused 
by the thinness and semi-transparency of the shell. The next three genera have 
the tail moderately long and more or less rounded; and while Tympanistria has 
the first primary pointed, in Chalcopelia and Chalcophaps this feather is normal 
in shape. The white-breasted wood-dove, the only representative of the genus 
Tympanistria, inhabits the whole of South Africa as well as Madagascar, the 
Comoro Islands, and Fernando Po. 
African Ground- The African ground-dove ( Clialopelia a fra), the solitary repre- 
Dove - sentative of its genus, in addition to the characters given, may be 
recognised by the boldly marked patches of metallic steel-blue or golden-green 
adorning the wings. Inhabiting the whole of Africa south of about 17° north 
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