22 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
perched on trees; its food is berries. The na¬ 
tives catch thefe Pigeons with bird-lime, theEu-'C 
ropeans fhoot them. Their fiefli is efteemcd a is 
delicacy. n 
C 
The Purple Crowned Pigeon.—Of this feveral ( 
varieties are found in the iflands in the South Seas b 
or Pacific Ocean. In Otaheite the crown of this t 
Pigeon is a faint purple; at Ulictea deeper; at 
Tonga Taboo of a very deep vivid purple, fur- 
rounded by yellow. They feed on the fruit of 
the banana, and are eafily tamed. 
Mr. Bougainville mentions a beautiful green 
Turtle, and Pigeons with a green and gold plum¬ 
age, perhaps of this fpecies. 
The White Nutmeg Pigeon.—The plumage is 4 
wholly white, except the quills, and one third of - 
the tail near the end, which are black; the le^s 
are light grey. 
It inhabits New Guinea, feeds on nutmegs, 
the outer fkin of them is perhaps the only part 
that ferves for nourifhment, as the nut itfelf 
pafles through the bird uninjured for the purpofes 
of vegetation; and by this means, the nutmeg- 
trees are propagated, and fpread through all the 
iflands which they frequent. 
4- 
There 
