ot THE NATURAL HISTORY 
perched on trees; its food is berries. The na- 
tives catch thefe Pigeons with bird-lime, the Eu- 
ropeans thoot them. Their fet i Is ee a 
deli cacy. 
The Purple Crowned Pigeon, 3 this feveral 
varieties are found in the iflands in the South Seas 
or Pacific Ocean. In Otaheite the crown of this 
Pigeon is a faint purple; at Ulietea deeper; at 
Tonga Taboo of a very deep vivid purple, fur- 
rounded by yellow. They feed on the fruit of - 
- the banana, and are ealily tamed. : 
Mr. Bougainville mentions a beautiful green 
Turtle, and Pigeons with a green and gold plum- 
age, perhaps of this fpecies. | 
2° 
The White Nutmeg Pigeon.— The plumage is 
wholly white, except the quills, and one third of 
the tail near the end, which are black; the gs 
are light grey. 
‘Tt 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. | 
oe oe Ties 
