File:The genera of birds (18554079294).jpg

Order IV. COLUMBA *
is composed of those birds only which are well known under the denomination of Pigeons, and, as it
embraces but one family, the characters will be given under it.
The Family
COLUMBIDiE, or Pigeons,
have the Bill short, straight, compressed, with the apical half of the mandibles more or less vaulted and
strong, and the base more or less weak, and covered by a soft fleshy membrane, in which are placed the
Nostrils ; the Wings moderate ; the Tarsi more or less long and robust ; and the Toes lengthened,
divided, and padded beneath.
The first Subfamily,
TRERONINiE, or Tree Pigeons,
have the Bill short, with the ends of both mandibles vaulted, and of nearly equal thickness ; the Tarsi
very short, and more or less feathered ; the Toes divided at the base, the inner much shorter than the
outer ; and the claws short and curved.
Ptilonopus Swains.'f
Bill short, slender, with the tips of both mandibles of nearly equal thickness ; and the nostrils linear
and lateral. Wings moderate, with the first quill shorter than the second, the end generally narrowed
for some distance from the tips, and the third the longest. Tail moderate and even. Tarsi short, and
feathered to the toes. Toes free at their base, and padded beneath ; the inner toe shorter than the outer ;
the claws short and much curved.
These showy birds are found principally in Malacca, Celebes, the north-west coast of Australia, and the islands of
the Pacific Ocean. Their habits are peculiarly arboreal and solitary, living entirely in the deep forests, where they
are only discovered by their incessant and loud cooing. The fruits of various trees form their food, especially that of
the banyan, &c.
1. P. purpuratus (Lath.) Swains. Temm. Pig. t. 24. — Columba
Forsteri Desm. ; Col. kurukuru Bonn.
2. P. porphyreus (Temm.) Linn. Trans, xiii. 130 Columba
porphyrea Forst. Icon. ined. t. 140. Temm. Pig. t. 35.
3. P. viridissimus (Temm.) — Columba viridissima Pig. t. 34.
4. P. xanthogantcr (Wagl.) — Columba purpurata Temm. ; Col.
diademata Temm. PI. col. 254. ; Ptilonopus flavigaster Swains.
5. P. Ewingii Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1842. 19., Gould's B. of Austr.
6. P. Swainsoni Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1842. 18., Gould's Birds of
Austr. pi. — Ptilonopus purpuratus var. regina Swains. Jard. &
Selby's 111. Orn. pi. 70. ; Columba roseicapilla Less.
7. P. pulchellus (Temm.) PI. col. 564., Knip et Prev. Pig. t. 14.
8. P. monachus (Reinw.) Swains. PI. col. 253.
9. P. taitensis (Less.) Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. 1. 297.
10. P. perlatus (Temm.) PI. col. 559., Knip et Prev. Pig. t.
21.
11. P. hyogaster (Temm.) Swains. PI. col. 252.

• Latham. The Gyrutores of the Prince of Canino.