Volume 9, Plate XXVIII / Ornithology (Birds)

Carunculated Ground Pigeon

Geophilus carunculatus

A South African bird first found by Le Vaillant in the Namaqua country, showing decided affinity to the gallinaceous tribes in form and manners, ornamented with a naked red wattle pendant below the bill, elongated tarsi, and a partridge-like pendant tail. It nests on the ground, laying six to eight reddish-white eggs incubated by both sexes; the plumage is purplish-grey above, white below, with white-margined grey coverts and reddish-brown tail.