302 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



and twigs loosely put together, and bedded with softer materials, with a slight 

 hollow in the centre ; the eggs are two, glarish white, varying in form and di- 

 mensions, but usually long oval, If by 1^ of an inch. 



93. Melopelia leucoptera. The White Wing is more a lowland than a 

 mountain dove. They are gregarious, usually keeping in flocks of ten to 

 twenty, but in January and February, in the Guinea corn season and other 

 times, when the Cerei are in fruit, they congregate in large flocks , often of several 

 hundreds. Their food is principally grain and seed, but they are equally fond 

 of the ripe fruit of the different species of Cereus, abounding on the savannahs 

 and salinas during the summer. Inland, the White Wing, like the Bald-pate, 

 breeds in solitary pairs ; but in the mangrove swamps and islands along the 

 coast they breed in company, many in the same tree. The nest is a frail 

 platform of sticks with a slight hollow of leaves and bark, sometimes a few 

 feathers ; the eggs are two, oblong oval, glarish white, 1 5-16ths by 15-16ths. 

 The White Wing is kept and often breeds in confinement ; it is at first wild, 

 fluttering in alarm at the approach of any person, but afterwards becomes do- 

 cile if attended with care. It crosses with the Turtur risorius. I have now a 

 male White Wing mated with a female Ring-dove. 



239. Turtur risorius. The Turtle or Ring Dove is an introduced caged 

 species, but I add it to the Jamaica birds, as I have sometimes seen parties 

 of six or eight feeding in company with the White Wing in the Guinea corn 

 fields and salinas; but I have never met with a nest in the woods. There is a 

 variety pure white, without the ring, though bred in captivity for many 

 generations, and though so docile in disposition, this dove cannot be allowed 

 at large, as it generally takes advantage of any opportunity of escaping. It 

 breeds several times during the year. The eggs are similar to those of the 

 White Wing, and measure from one and an eighth by seven-eighths to one 

 and three-eighths by an inch. 



95. Cham-spelia passerina. The Ground Dove sometimes perches andalways 

 roosts on low trees ; but is otherwise generally found in pairs feeding on 

 small grain and seeds. Several pairs may be seen feeding together, but they 

 do not associate. It is very tame and is commonly found about homesteads 

 and in streets and roads. It breeds in low trees. The cashew and logwood 

 appear to be preferred. It is rarely seen in cages, as the note is a plaintive, 

 mournful coo, and a Creole superstition attaches misfortune to the person 

 keeping them. The nest is slightly made of twigs and grass in a fork or 

 hollow. The eggs are two, round oval, white, seven-eighths by eleven- 

 s jxteenths of an inch. 



94. Zenaida amabilis. The Pea Dove is not gregarious, and although 

 terrestrial, is often seen and heard on trees, and there it also roosts. It builds 

 indiscriminately, in trees or on the ground, a slight platform of sticks and 

 twigs loosely put together. The eggs are two, oval or roundish oval white, 

 measure 1 i 3 g to 1 yg by 1 inch. It is a favorite cage bird, and though 

 apparently very timid and restless, may become very tame and docile, and 

 take grain from the hand or lips of its feeder. 



96. Leptoptila jamaicensis. (Peristera of Gosse.) The White Belly is 

 strictly a ground dove, never resorting to trees except to roost or for temporary 

 shelter, when disturbed or alarmed, and then it always perches low. It prefers, 

 but is not confined to the low ranges of limestone hills, particularly in those 

 districts where the orange abounds, the pips or seeds of this fruit contribu- 

 ting largely to its support. Its food is also grain, seeds and berries ; and 

 though several pairs may be seen feeding under the same tree, they never 

 associate. The White Belly breeds in low bushes, often in clumps of Tillandsia. 



[Nov. 



