Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/233

220 In this, the typical genus, which contains the species common to Europe, the beak is of moderate strength, straight at the base, compressed at the sides, with the tip bent downward: the nostrils nearly linear, covered with a soft, swollen membrane; the tarsi short, partly feathered in front; the hind toe rather long; the wings powerful, rather pointed, the second quill longest; the tail nearly even at the extremity.

The species of this genus are very numerous, and widely spread over the globe: they commonly breed on tall trees, on the branches of which they construct rude and artless nests of twigs loosely put together, so as to form a slight platform, sometimes without the slightest concavity. Some, however, breed in the holes and on the ledges of rocks.

We select for illustration of the genus, one of the largest of its species, the common Ring-dove, or Wood-pigeon, of our own country (Columba palumbus, .), called also, provincially, the Queest and the Cushat.

This fine bird is of a bluish-grey tint on the upper parts, which is darker on the back and wing coverts; the breast is purplish-red, becoming grey on the lower parts; the sides and front of the neck display rich metallic reflections of green and purple; some of the feathers of this part are tipped with white, forming an imperfect ring of white, partly encircling the neck, whence its most common name.

The Ring-dove is a constant resident in the