ZENAIDA DOVE. 625 



The specimen was 13 inches long. The feet yellow, and the nails 

 black. Irids blackish. Back of the neck from the base of the head, 

 of a brilliant golden-green; under part of the neck pale vinaceous 

 purple, the vent paler. Tail slightly rounded. 



WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. 



(Columba leucocephala, L. Bonap. Am. Orn. iii. pi. 15. fig. 1, [fe- 

 male.] 



Sp. Charact. — Slate-blue ; crown cream-white ; bill red, whitish 

 at tip. 



This species, well known as an inhabitant of Mexico 

 and the West Indies, is also gregarious, and found in 

 great numbers on the rocks of the Florida Keys, where 

 they breed in society, and, when first seen in the spring, 

 feed principally upon the beach plum, and the berries of 

 a kind of palm. From the peculiar selection of their 

 breeding-places, they are known, in some of the West 

 Indies, particularly Jamaica, St. Domingo, and Porto Ri- 

 co, by the name of Rock Pigeons. They likewise abound 

 in the Bahama Islands, and form an important article of 

 food to the inhabitants ; particularly the young, as they 

 become fully grown. 



The length of the White-Crowned Pigeon is about 14 inches, the 

 alar extent 23. The bill red at the base, above bluish-white. Feet 

 carmine red. Iris orange. Cervical space small, deep purplish, 

 changing to violet, surrounded by a larger portion of scaly feathers, 

 of a bright green, with bluish and golden reflections. Primaries 

 dusky black. Tail even. 



ZENAIDA DOVE. 



{Columba zenaida, Bonap. Am. Orn. iii. pi. 15. fig. 2. [female.]) 



Sp. Charact. — Brownish-ash ; beneath vinaceous ; an amethystine 

 spot under each ear ; tail with a black band, 3 lateral feathers 

 pearl-grey at tip. 



53 



