78 
BAND-TAILED PIGEON. 
feathers, is slightly rounded at tip, with a definite blackish band 
at two-thirds the length from the base, visible on both sides; before 
this band the colour is bluish-ash, and behind dirty grayish: the 
tail is much lighter on the inferior surface. 
This species is closely allied to Columba caribcea of Gmelin, 
with which Say stated its analogy, and also to Columba leuco- 
cephala of Linne. In fact, it possesses some characters in common 
with each of these species, such as the band on the tail of the 
former, and an indication of white on the head of the latter. This 
character may induce some naturalists to suppose it the young of 
the leucocephala , but by a careful comparison all doubt will be 
removed, and it will be admitted to the rank of a distinct species. 
The caribcea may readily be distinguished from the present spe¬ 
cies by its superior size, and by being destitute of the white band 
on the neck; by having a reddish bill, tipped with yellow, and 
dark red feet. The leucocephala , in the adult state, has the whole 
head white above; but as it is destitute of this distinction when 
young, acquiring it gradually as it advances in age, other discrimi¬ 
nating characters must be employed; the tail is without a band, 
the bill is red with a white tip, and the feet are red. 
