COLUMBA.
Tail feathers; upper part tarsus feathered in front.
Columba livia livia Gmelin. RocK-DovE. Fr. Colombe biset ; Ger. Felsentaube ; Ital. I'iccione selvatico ; Sacred. Klippdufva.
? Blue grey, paler on back and wings, rump white ; throat, neck and chest metallic green or purple ; two black bars on wing. Iris orange red. Bill brownish black, whitish at base above. Legs and feet red. \Ving 2 t5-23o. Tarsus 27-3o. Bill 17-19.
Resident.—Faroes, Coasts of British Isles, especially Scotland and Islands ; Mediterranean Countries and Islands ; Crimea, Ural Mountains ; N.W. Africa ; also S.W. Asia.
C. livia canariensis Bannerman. Underparts darker grey than in "livia " and rump greyish white ; somewhat smaller. \Ving 207-227 (H.).
I stands.
C. livia. sehimperi Bonaparte. Grey of back, wings and underparts much paler than in " livia " ; rump white tinged grey. Smaller. Wing 184-210 (H.).
and Nubia.
Columba cenas cenas L. STOCK-DOVE. Fr. Colomb ; Ger. Hohltaube ; Ital. Columbella ; Swed. Slaty grey ; neck (except fore part) metallic green or purple, chest vinous ; some black spots on wing coverts and secondaries ; tail blue grey at base, towards the tip a narrow pale grey bar, with a dark terminal bar. Iris dark brown. Bill red, yellowish towards tip and greyish white at base above. Legs and feet pale red.
Wing 215-227, 210-216. Tarsus 26-27. Bill 17-18.
Isles ; Continental Europe south from S. Scandinavia, S. Finland, and Russia about N. to Medi terranean, Black Sea, and Caucasus ; in Russia east to Urals ; N.W. Africa ; also in W. Asia. Northern birds migrate; becomes more abundant in N. Mediterranean Countries and N.W. Africa in winter ; also in Egypt. Resident in British Isles.
Columba palumbus palumbus L. RING-DOVE. Fr. Colombe rainier ; Ger. Ringeltaube ; /tat. Colombaccio ; Swed. Ring-dufva.
Head, throat, lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts bluish slate ; sides of neck metallic green or lilac with patch of creamy white ; back and scapulars greyish brown, outer wing coverts white, breast vinous, tail black with broad bar of light grey. Iris pale yellow. Bill red, yellow towards tip, base above
whitish. Legs and feet coral red. Wing 235-253. Tarsus 27-32. Bill 20-21.
Breeds.—British Isles ; Continental Europe generally from about 64° to the Mediterranean ; and also W. Asia. Northern birds migrate.
C. palumbus excelsa Bonaparte. White neck patches larger. Wing 254-270 (H.).
Resident.—Forests of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. The status of this form is very doubtful.
C. palumbus rttaderensis Tschusi. Grey parts darker, back and scapulars darker and browner. Wing 242-246 (H.).
C. paluinbus azorica Hartert. Above darker than "mader cnsis," deep slate on head, rump, and upper tail coverts, vinous of breast deeper. Wing 233-25o (H.), and C. Azores.
Columba trocaz Heineken.
8 9 Above slaty grey, feathers of neck at sides and behind with silvery tips ; hind neck and upper back glossed green and purple, tail black with a blue grey bar ; breast vinous chestnut, abdomen grey. Irides pale straw. Bill, eye-rim, legs and feet coral pink. Wing 242-25o. Tarsus 35-38. Bill 18-22 (H.).
Resident.—Madeira.
Columba junonic Hartert. (" C. laurivora" auct.).
j 9 Above variable grey brown ; crown, throat, and nape metallic green, hind neck purple, rump and upper tail coverts slate ; beneath, breast and abdomen vinous chestnut, tail grey, paler at tip, and without bar. Wing 205-220. Tarsus 35. Bill 18-20 (H.).
Resident.—Palma, Gomera (Canary Islands).
Columba bollii Godman.
j 9 Greyer above than "junonix" ; crown slaty, tail black with broad subterminal slaty grey band ; beneath, throat and fore neck slate with green gloss, breast vinous chestnut, abdomen grey. Iris straw-yellow. Bill, eyelid, legs and feet red. Wing 210-223. Tarsus 29-30. Bill 20-21 (H.).
Resident.—Tenerife, Palma, and Gomera (Canary Islands).