H WHITE NUTMEG
P.
D escription.
1*1/ACE.
Le Pigeon blanc Mangeur de Mufcade de la Nouvelle Guinee, Son. V'oy\
p. 169. U 103.
T HI S is of a middling lize. The bill light grey : irides yel-
lowifh : the plurnage wholly white, except the quills, and
one-third of the tail next the end, which are black : the legs are
light grey.
This inhabits New Guinea, and, with the la ft, feeds on Nutmegs
■, and ferves to propagate this ufeful fpice in the fame manner
as that bird.
This fpecies, we are informed by the author, lives on Nutmegs
; and it is molt likely the outer Ikin alone ferves them
for nourilhment: as to the nut itfelf, it is voided whole, and fo
little altered, that after having palled the organs of digeftion, it
is not rendered the lefs fit for vegetation : from hence it comes
that thefe birds, flying from one ifland to another, fow and fpread
the Nutmeg in all of them which they frequent *.
* A Pigeon was found with two Nutmegs in its mouth and craw, ftill furrounded
with their fcarlet covering or Mace, at the IJle o f Rotterdam. Forfi. Vsy. ii. p, 332.
Ditto Reply, p. 35«
By this means like wife is the Cinnamon'tree propagated at Ceylon, by certain
wijd Doves, called from thence Cinnamon-eaters; and occaiion the rife of lo
many young trees along, the road that they look like a foreft. Forr. Voy. p,
345. (no defcription of the bird). Pigeons faid alfo to be the propagators of
the Loranthus Ste/is, Lin.— “ feeding on the berries, and voiding the Hones on
.** the trunks of trees, where it grows.” See Parkinf. Voy. p. 38.
Columba
Columba Guinea, Lin. Syfi. i. p. 282. N° 16.
Le Pigeon de Guinee, Brif. orn. i. p. 132. N° 30,—Buf. oif. ii. p. 538.
La Tourterelle du Cap de Bonne Efperance, Son. Voy. Ind. ii. p. 179.
Triangular-fpotted Pigeon, Edvs. ii. pi. 75.
Br• Muf. Lev. Muf.
T H I S equals the Wood Pigeon in fize. The bill is blackilh :
the eyes furrounded by a red Ikin; the irides bright yellow r
the head, neck, and under parts of the bodv, pale alh-colour :
belly and vent white: the feathers on the neck are pointed ; of an
alh-colour, with vinaceous margins : the upper part of the back
purplifh brown, glofied with violet; wing coverts, and lefier
quills, the fame, but each feather tipped with a triangular white
fpot, the point upwards ; the greater quills black, with grey
edges : lower part of the back and rump white : the tail dull alh-
colour, tipped with black : legs pale red : claws brown.
Inhabits Guinea, in the fouthern. parts; the rocky parts, of
A f r ic a common about the Cape of Good Hope.
Le Pigeon à queue: annelée de la Jamaïque, Brif. orn. i. p. 138. N° 34.1—
Bttf. oif. ii. p. 539.
Columba cauda fafcia notatâ, Raii Syn. p. 63. N° 17.— p. 183. N° 22.
Ring-tailed Pigeon, S/oam Jam. p. 302.— Brovon. Jam. p. 468.
g I Z.E of the Ring Pigeon : length fifteen inches. The membrane
which covers the noftrils gibbous : irides crimfon :
the head, fore part of the neck, and breaft, purplilh : the hind
part of the neck greenilh purple, with a filky glofs : back,
rump, and upper tail coverts,.pale blue : the wings are brownilh :
the
TRIANGULAR.
-SPOTTES P.
D escription.
P lace,
35-
RING-TAILED
P.
D escription,