PIGEONS. 247 



the same distribution as those of Geotryyon. They are birds of about the same size 

 as those of the last-named genus, and of very attractive appearance. The single 

 species from Jamaica, L. jamaicensis, is a very lovely bird, with a white forehead and 

 blue crown, neck reddish-brown, changing to amethyst, the lower feathers brilliant 

 greeu and purple. Under parts pure white, and a blue-gray tail tipped with white. 

 It lives on the ground, has a plaintive voice (the negroes interpreting its cooing tones 

 by the sounds " rain-come-wet-me-through"), and lives upon nuts and the seeds of the 

 orange, mango, etc. It is very gentle, and, when flushed, only flies for a short dis- 

 tance, generally to the branches of some low tree. It builds its nest generally in a 

 moderately high situation, and is known by the trivial name of "white belly." 



Chamcepelia, with some half-dozen species, contains the ground-doves, little crea- 

 tures which pass their time on the ground almost exclusively. The best known among 

 them is C.passerina, from southern North America, Mexico, Central America, and 

 Brazil. It goes in small groups of seldom more than a dozen, and prefers rather open 

 places, runs with great facility, keeping the tail elevated. It is an extremely gentle 

 bird, and readily becomes domesticated. It feeds on seeds of various grasses and 

 berries. The nest is placed in low bushes, and is composed of twigs and lined with 

 grasses. The flesh is excellent. The plumage is light, purplish-red on the neck, 

 breast, and flanks, with a brownish gray back ; the tail is gray at the base, bluish 

 black towards the end, tipped with white. The female is similar to the male, but 

 paler in tint. The C. erythrothorax, from Bolivia and Peru, has been placed in a 

 distinct genus, Gymnopdia^ on account of its nude orbits. 



Columbida contains two species, according to some authors, confined to South 

 America, resembling the ordinary dove in form, and are of a brown plumage, with 

 lengthened tail. One (C. campestris), from the interior of Brazil, is a very graceful 

 bird, with a vinaceous breast, olive-brown back, and the lateral tail-feathers black 

 tipped with white. 



Scardafella has also but two species scattered over Mexico, Guatemala, and Brazil. 

 They are known as the scaly-doves, from the distinct markings of the edge of their 

 feathers, and are diminutive representatives of the wild-pigeon (Ectopistes migratoria), 

 but do not possess the beautiful changeable hues that adorn the neck of that species. 

 Melopelia and Metriopelia, both possessing two species, are New World genera, their 

 species extending from Mexico southward, on the west coast of South America, to 

 Chili. They are plainly clad but gracefully shaped birds, Melopelia leucoptera being 

 characterized by a large patch of white upon the wing, from which it derives its 

 name, while its relative, M. meloda, is dark blue around the eye. Metropelia melanop- 

 tera has the wing blackish, with a white shoulder. 



Zenaida, with some half-dozen species, is confined chiefly to the West Indies and 

 South America, with one member from the Galapagos Islands. The most familiar 

 species of this genus is probably the Z. amabilis, from the West Indies, occasionally 

 seen upon some of the Florida keys. In Jamaica, where it is not uncommon, it haunts 

 the open pastures, where any intruder can easily be discovered. It is wary and diffi- 

 cult of approach, and flies with great rapidity, making the peculiar whistling with the 

 wings so characteristic of so many doves. It subsists on various fruits and seeds, 

 and its flesh is white and much esteemed. The plumage is pleasing, though of sober 



colors. 



Peristera, as restricted by some writers, is also an American genus, of some four 

 species, found in Mexico and Brazil. The species have the usual coloring peculiar to 



