COLUMBA. 235 
Tapanatepec (Sumichrast®!), Teotalcingo, Oaxaca (Boucard+), Buctzotz, 
N. Yucatan (Gaumer1®), Tunkas (Stone & Baker '*), Chichén-Itzé (Chapman "") ; 
GuateMaLA, Escuintla (Mraser 18), Retalhuleu (Richardson 18), Volcan de Fuego, 
Zapote (O. 8.18); Honpuras, Tigré I. (Taylor); Satvapor, Volcan de San Miguel 
(Richardson 18); Nicaragua, Ometépe I., Lake of Nicaragua (Nutting?*), La 
Libertad in Chontales (Richardson 18); Costa Rica (Frantzius 22, Carmiol}8), Dota, 
Cartago, Turrialba, El Zarcero de Alajuela (Zeledon 33 18), Barranca (Carmiol *1), 
Laguna de Coris, Tambor, Cuadros de Irazu, Tres Rios, Sarchi, Candelaria 
(Underwood, in litt.). 
The Red-billed Pigeon is a summer visitor to Southern Texas, where it breeds 
abundantly in the valley of the Rio Grande: it has been observed from the end of 
January till late in November, and some birds probably remain throughout the year. 
Specimens obtained at Graham Mountain, in Southern Arizona, in July, a locality 
about ninety miles distant from the Mexican border, indicate that the species nests 
there also. C. flavirostris is found all over Mexico, and probably breeds throughout 
its Central-American range. | 
Sumichrast speaks of it as always perching on the highest trees, and Grayson says 
that he found specimens at Mazatlan, on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre, feeding 
upon acorns, which are abundant at certain seasons. 
C. flavirostris chiefly inhabits forest-districts, but sometimes nests in the vicinity of 
habitations, and even consorts with tame Pigeons, as observed by Dr. Finley, near 
Hidalgo, in Texas’. The nest is, according to Mr. Sennett, rather differently placed 
to that of most Pigeons, being built on a large branch close to the trunk of the tree, 
and composed of sticks and grasses!*. Other observers, quoted by Bendire !® in his 
‘ Life-Histories,’ describe the nest as a frail structure of sticks, similar to that of most 
Pigeons. Only one egg is laid, but the birds are said to breed several times in a 
season, and to be very assiduous and devoted parents, both male and female taking 
their share in the duties of incubation. The call-note is a particularly loud coo". 
4. Columba madrensis. 
Columba flavirostris (nec Wagler), Grayson, P. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 274°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. 
Soc. N. H. ii. p. 304°; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 285 (pt.) *. 
Columba flavirostris madrensis, Nelson, Pr. Biol. Soc. Washington, xii. p. 6°; N. Amer, Fauna, 
no. 14, p. 35°. 
- Columba madrensis, Sharpe, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 70°. 
C. flavirostri similis, sed marginibus tectricum alarum albis paullo latioribus distinguenda. Long. tota circa 
12°5, alee 8-1, caude 4°75, culm. 1:1, tarsi 1:05, 
mari similis. Long. tota circa 12°5, ale 8-0. (Descr. maris et femine ex Insulis Tres Marias dictis. 
Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. W. Mexico, Tres Marias Is. (Grayson 12, Forrer®, Nelson *). 
Mr. Nelson was the first to point out the differences of the Red-billed Pigeon of 
30* 
