NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 301 



known as the Ring-tail. It is probably only an occasional visitor, though it 

 is sometimes seen in numbers. It may be Columbafasciata. 



90. Columba carribea. The Ring-tail is strictly an arboreal pigeon. It 

 is supposed to drink from the water collected in the wild pines, the large 

 growing species of Tillandsia, Bilbergia, and others. I have, however, been 

 informed by Maroons from Scott's Hall and Moore Town, that they have often 

 waited in ambush for these birds, as they came in the afternoon to drink at 

 the mountain springs. This pigeon usually keeps to the deep woods of the 

 highest ranges of hills, where, perched amid the dense foliage of some 

 lofty tree, it remains securely screened from observation. In the autumn 

 and winter months it sometimes descends to the lower ranges of limestone 

 hills, but never to the low lands or plains, in quest of food. It is rarely seen 

 in parties of more than six or eight, and then only whilst feeding on the fruit 

 and berries of the several species of Ficus, Laurus, Bumelia, Puniata, Eugenia, 

 and other fleshy and succulent fruit and berry-bearing forest trees. Grain 

 does not appear to form an article of its food in a state of nature, as it is with 

 difficulty led to feed on corn in captivity, and is consequently difficult to cage. 

 Iu the breeding season, daring the spring and summer months, the Ring-tail 

 retires altogether to the dense woods on the high mountain ranges, inacces- 

 sable to all but the Maroon or hardy mountain hunter. Many sportsmen inex- 

 perienced in this kind of woodcraft, have lost their lives in attempting ring- 

 tail shooting, without a competent guide, by falling over precipices or into 

 sink-holes. The nest, a thick mat or platform of sticks bedded with leaves, 

 twigs, and soft bark, is constructed near the summit of some lofty tree en- 

 veloped in tangled masses of trailing plants ; the eggs are ivory white, but I 

 have no note of the measurement. 



91. Columba inornata. (C. rvfina, Gosse.) The Blue Pigeon is also an 

 arboreal and highland Pigeon, sometimes, however, and particularly during 

 the Guinea corn season, it descends to the plains. Its food is fruits and ber- 

 ries with the addition of grain. In January and February, in the early 

 morning, it is seen in small companies of six or eight or as single pairs, passing 

 from the hills to the fields of ripening Guinea corn, and again returning in the 

 evening to the hills. It is more wary than the ^Ringtail. The nest is also a 

 platform, but more massive than that of any other native pigeon ; it is more 

 easily detected than that of the Ringtail, as it is often placed on some lofty tree 

 in the vicinity of clearings, and in the open glades and hillsides. The egg is 

 ivory-white, and larger than that of the Bald-pate. 



92. Columba leucocephala. There are two varieties of the Bald-pate 

 pigeon, distinguished as the Mountain and Mangrove Bald-pate ; the iris is 

 hazel, with dark chestnut pupil. I have not met with the latter in the moun- 

 tains, but both kinds resort at all times to the lowlands and mangrove 

 swamps along the coast, and to the neighboring islands and keys (Pigeon and 

 the two Goat Islands in particular) where they breed in numbers, making 

 their nests in trees, some at high elevations, others so low as to be within 

 reach of a person standing, according to the convenience of the site. Large 

 numbers ot squabs are often taken from these places and brought into the towns 

 for sale. They feed in company in the morning and afternoon, and as they often 

 feed at a distance from their roosting places, large flocks are sometimes seen 

 in the early morning and evening passing and repassing overhead, sometimes 

 in high, at other times in low flight, going to and returning from the feed- 

 ing ground, or convenient watering place. Their food is grain, fruit and ber- 

 ries, nuts and seeds, and they commit serious depredations on the Guinea 

 corn fields, not only by the quantity they devour, but by breaking down the 

 brittle corn stalks with the weight of their bodies. They are easily kept, and 

 often breed in confinement, when they become quiet and contented, but take 

 the earliest opportunity of emancipation. The nest is a platform of sticks 



1863.] 



