. Cassell's book of birds . ,the belly and rump whitish ; the quills and feathers of the centre part of the tail-covers of a metallicbrown, delicately sprinkled with black towards their roots, and pure white at their extremities. Theeye is light brown, the beak pale, and the foot dark yellow. This species is nine inches long, itswing measures three inches and three-quarters. The Sunda and Molucca Islands must be regarded as the native land of this Pigeon, which is,however, numerously met with not only in the neighbouring countries, but in Europe. In Java it isvery highly esteemed as a domestic
. Cassell's book of birds . ,the belly and rump whitish ; the quills and feathers of the centre part of the tail-covers of a metallicbrown, delicately sprinkled with black towards their roots, and pure white at their extremities. Theeye is light brown, the beak pale, and the foot dark yellow. This species is nine inches long, itswing measures three inches and three-quarters. The Sunda and Molucca Islands must be regarded as the native land of this Pigeon, which is,however, numerously met with not only in the neighbouring countries, but in Europe. In Java it isvery highly esteemed as a domestic favourite, its voice being supposed to act as a charm againstwitchcraft. Many writers speak of this bird as peculiarly interesting when in captivity, but, althoughit possesses a sweet pleasing voice, we have been unable to discover anything attractive in its caged birds as we have observed were extremely quiet, remaining almost motionless throughoutthe day, and only coming down from their perch to eat or rixu is. UsseSJ^&olcafBirJa lAMPHASTOS /m-iT mc rhiMAat sue.) TOUCM % TYJ3A GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. l6l THE SPECKLED OR WEDGE-TAILED TURTLE DOVE. The Speckled or Wedge-tailed Turtle Dove {Stidopeleia cuneata) belongs to a group ofbirds inhabiting the continent of New Holland, distinguishable from the Pigeons above describedby their superior length of tail, in which the five outer pairs of feathers are progressively shortened, andby their spotted plumage. The head, throat, and breast are grey; the back and shoulders cinnamon-brown; the feathers on the wing-covers deep grey, and those on the shoulders decorated with twowhite spots, surrounded by a black line; the belly and feathers on the lower wing-covers are white ;
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
