The Bird Book Part 39

315. Pa.s.sENGER PIGEON. _Ectopistes migratorius._

Range.--Formerly, North America east of the Rockies; casually seen in the upper Mississippi Valley, now extinct.

A handsome species (see frontispiece) with ruddy underparts, grayish upperparts and a long graduated tail. This species years ago found in flocks of thousands or millions, is now practically exterminated, chiefly by being hunted and trapped. A few pairs probably now nest in the interior, from northern United States to Hudson Bay. Their nests are very rude, frail platforms of twigs, on which two white eggs are laid, they being longer and narrower, comparatively, than those of other species. Size of eggs, 1.50 1.02. Data.--Southwest sh.o.r.e of Lake Manitoba, June 1, 1891. Nest of twigs in an aspen tree.

316. Mourning Dove. _Zenaidura macroura carolinensis._

Range.--North America from New England, Manitoba and British Columbia, southward.

Now that the Pa.s.senger Pigeon has disappeared, this species becomes the only one found in the east, with the exception of the little Ground Dove in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. While, sometimes, small flocks of them nest in a community, they generally nest in companies of two or three pairs. Their nests are generally at a low elevation, in trees, bushes and often upon the ground. Their nests are made entirely of twigs and rootlets, and eggs may be found from early in April until the latter part of September, as they often raise two or three broods a season. The two eggs are white. Size 1.15 .80. Data.--Refugio Co., Texas, May 3, 1899. Two eggs laid on the ground in a slight cradle of twigs.

Collector, James J. Carroll.

[Ill.u.s.tration 195: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pa.s.senger Pigeon.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mourning Dove.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 194

317. ZENAIDA DOVE. _Zenaida zenaida._

Range.--West Indies; in summer, on the Florida Keys, but not in great numbers.

This species is similar in size to the Mourning Dove, but it has a short and square tail, and the secondaries are tipped with white, and the underparts more ruddy. They generally nest upon the ground, but occasionally in small bushes, laying two white eggs a trifle larger than those of the preceding species. Size 1.20 .90. The nests are made of gra.s.ses and twigs, on the ground under bushes.

[Ill.u.s.tration 196: NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE. H. B. Stough.]

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 195

318. WHITE-FRONTED DOVE. _Leptotila fulviventris brachyptera._

Range.--Mexico and Central America north to southern Texas.

Slightly larger than the last, much paler below, with no black ear mark as in the two preceding species, and with the forehead whitish. They build their nests of sticks, gra.s.ses and weeds, and place them in tangled vines and thickets a few feet from the ground. Their two eggs, which are laid in May and June, have a creamy white or buffy color. Size 1.15 .85. They cannot be called a common species within our borders.

319. WHITE-WINGED DOVE. _Melopelia asiatica._

Range.--Central America, Mexico and the southwestern border of the United States.

This species is 12 inches in length, has a black patch on the ear coverts, white tips to the greater and lesser coverts and some of the secondaries, and broad white tips to the outer tail feathers, which are black. This species is very abundant in some localities within our borders. Their nests are very frail platforms of twigs placed in trees or bushes or precariously suspended among tangled vines. Their two eggs are white or creamy white, and measure 1.15 .85.

320. GROUND DOVE. _Columbigallina pa.s.serina terrestris._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States to eastern Texas.

The Ground Doves are the smallest of the family, measuring but about 6.5 inches in length. Their nesting habits and eggs are exactly like those of the next to be described. They are very abundant, especially along the South Atlantic coast.

320a. MEXICAN GROUND DOVE. _Chaemepelia pa.s.serinus pallescens._

Range.--Border of the United States from Texas to southern California and southward.

This paler sub-species builds a nest of twigs and weeds, placing the flat structure either in low bushes or on the ground. Their two white eggs are laid during April to July, they sometimes rearing two broods a season. Size of eggs, .85 .65.

320b. BERMUDA GROUND DOVE. _Chaemepelia pa.s.serina bermudiana._

Range.--Bermuda. Smaller and paler than the last; otherwise the same in nesting habits and eggs.

[Ill.u.s.tration: White-fronted Dove. White-winged Dove.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 196

321. INCA DOVE. _Scardafella inca._

Range.--Mexican border of the United States south to Central America and Lower California.

This handsome species is about the size of the last, but its tail is longer and graduated, consequently its length is greater, it being about 8 inches long. It is not an uncommon species along our Mexican border, but is not nearly as abundant as is the Ground Dove. It is often called "Scaled Dove" because of the blackish edges of nearly all its feathers.

They build fairly compact nests of twigs, rootlets and weeds, these being placed in bushes at a low elevation. They are two in number and pure white. Size .85 .65.

322. KEY WEST QUAIL DOVE. _Geotrygon chrysia._

Range.--West Indies, rarely found at Key West, although supposed to have been common there in Audubon's time. This species is of about the size of the Mourning Dove, has rusty colored upper parts, and is whitish below, the white below the eye being separated from that of the throat by a stripe of dusky from the base of the bill. They nest in trees, laying two buffy white eggs. Size 1.15 .9O.

322.1. RUDDY QUAIL DOVE. _Geotrygon montana._

Range.--Central America, north to eastern Mexico and the West Indies; once taken at Key West. This species is similar to the last but has no white streak under the eye, and the underparts are buffy. Eggs, creamy white. Size 1.15 .90.

323. BLUE-HEADED QUAIL DOVE. _Starnoenas cyanocephala._

Range.--Cuba, accidentally straying to Key West, but not in recent years.

It is a beautiful species, with a bright blue crown, black throat and stripe through the eye, separated by a white line under the eye. The rest of the plumage is of a brownish or rusty color. Eggs buffy white.

Size 1.30 1.05.

[Ill.u.s.tration 198: Inca Dove. Ground Dove.]