GOURA, Steph. COLUMBA, Lin. &e. LOPDYRUS, Bill of moderate length, very slender, slighly inflated towards the tip, the upper mandible channelled on the sides, and its tip bent down ; nostrils covered above with feathers, and placed in a fissure ; wings short, and round ed ; tarsi long, and toes cleft at the base.
The species thus characterized seem to hold an inter mediate station between the Columbine family and the Gallinaceous Fowls, and, in particular, to make such a near approach to some of the partridges, as to have been con founded with them. They are designated Columbi-gal line by Levaillant, and some of the French writers. They are gregarious, and principally reside within the tropics.
G. coronata, Steph. Columba coronata, Gmel. &c. Crowned Goura, or Great Crowned Pigeon. Orbits black, crest erect, body bluish, shoulders ferruginous, and a white band on the wings. The head is ornamented with an erect circular crest, composed of feathers upwards of four inches and a half in length, of a loose texture, and of a fine pale-bluish ash. T his species is somewhat larger than a turkey, but hills, inflates its breast, and coos like a pigeon. Its note is, however, so loud as to resemble a sort of lowing; and its mournful cries were mistaken by the crew of the Bougainville for those of savages. It in
habits the Moluccas and New Guinea, and breeds in lofty trees. Being easily tamed, it is kept as poultry in the East Indies.
G. carunculata, Steph. Wattled Goura. Iroary,with the forehead and wattles on the throat red ; under parts and rump white; tail brown, having the outer feathers edged with white. The female wants the naked space on the forehead, and the wattles on the throat. Length of the male ten inches, that of the female somewhat less. Native of the interior of Africa. The wattled goura makes a nest of bits of twigs and dry herbs in a hole on the ground. The female deposits from six to eight reddish-white eggs, and is assisted by the male during incubation. The young are covered with a reddish-grey down, and run as soon as they are out of the egg; but they are screened by their parents front the too ardent rays of the sun. The old birds feed them with the pupa of ants, dead insects, and worms ; but, as they acquire strength, they supply them with various sorts of grain, berries, &e. and have other habits in common with gallinaceous birds.