CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 583 



Section GURSORES. 

 ORDER COLUMB/E. 



Pigeons. 



Family COLUMBIDJE. 



Doves. 



EOTOPISTES, Swains. 

 B. migratorius, L. (macrura.) Passenger Pigeon. Wild Pigeon. 



Tarsus feathered at the heel (tibio-tarsal) joint ; tail of twelve 

 feathers, long and wedge shaped ; plumage bluish, with reddish 

 and violet tinges; reddish below. Length, 17 inches; tail, 8 

 inches. 



" The wild pigeon is much less abundant than formerly. A 

 few can generally be found where there is a preponderance of 

 beech timber, which is always a favorite sort. Incubation takes 

 place during May and June, occasionally three broods being 

 raised. They appear in flocks of from fifty to five hundred, 

 during August and September, and when they are ripe they live 

 largely upon beech-nuts. The decrease in their numbers has 

 been steady during the past ten years, and they will probably be 

 among 'the things that were/ in this State" (1868). 



ZENAIDURA, Bonap. 



Z. macroura, L. (carolinensis.) Turtle Dove. Carolina Dove. Mourn- 

 ing Dove. 



Tarsus bare ; tail of fourteen feathers ; plumage brownish 

 olive, glossed with blue and wine color ; with metallic luster. 

 Length, 12 inches; tail, 6f inches. 



" Resident. Abundant. The dove is not apparently very 

 numerous till the grain is harvested, then they are found in loose 

 flocks on the stubble, and are very fat. Though a grain-eating 

 species and at times very numerous, they are not offensive." 



