VOL. XVI, PP. 13-14 FEBRUARY 21, 1903 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW QUAIL-DOVE FROM THE 

 WEST INDIES. 



BY J. H. RILEY. 



[By permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.] 



While examining some doves labeled Geotrygon mystacea I 

 was struck by the variations exhibited by specimens from the 

 different parts of its range. My material has not been sufficient 

 to work these out satisfactorily, but the following species is so 

 very distinct that I take this opportunity of describing it. 



My thanks are due to Dr. J. A. Allen, of the American 

 Museum of Natural History, Mr. Charles B. Cory, of the Field 

 Columbian Museum, and to Mr. Outram Bangs, of the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology, for the loan of specimens. 



Geotrygon sabre, sp. nov. 



Type. Adult female, No. 80,982, U. S. National Museum, Saba Island, 

 W. I., collected by F. A. Ober. 



Characters. Differs from Geotrygon mystacea in being darker above, 

 in having the breast light hazel passing into vinaceous-rufous (vinaceous- 

 cinnamon in mystacea}, the belly cinnamon-rufous, the lining of the 

 wings darker, and the tail darker and more strongly edged with a darker 

 shade of brown. 



Measurements. Wing, 170; tail, 89; exposed culmen, 21 mm. 



6 PBOC. BIOL. Soc. WASH. VOL. XVI, 1903. (13) 



