636 PIGEON TRIBE. 



The Ground Dove is an inhabitant of all the states of 

 the Union south of Virginia, and is met with also in the 

 West Indies. They are common in the sea islands of 

 the Southern States, particularly in South Carolina and 

 Georgia, where they are seen in small flocks of from 15 

 to 20. They are found usually upon the ground, and 

 prefer the open fields and cultivated tracts to the woods ; 

 their flight is seldom protracted, as they fly out commonly 

 only to short distances ; though on the approach of win- 

 ter they retire to the islands and milder parts of the 

 continent, arriving again at their northern resorts early 

 in April. Like some other species they have a fre- 

 quent jetting motion with the tail, and the usual tender 

 cooing and gesticulations of the tribe. They feed on 

 various seeds and berries, particularly on those of the 

 tooth-ache tree, near which they are frequently seen 

 in the season. They likewise feed on rice and other 

 small grain, and become easily tamed and reconciled to 

 the cage ; in this way they are also occasionally fattened 

 for the table, and are particularly esteemed by the French 

 planters. 



This species is 6^ inches long. Front, throat, breast, and sides of 

 the neck, pale vinaceous purple ; crown and hind-head pale blue, 

 blended with purple. Back cinereous brown, scapulars tinged with 

 pale purple and marked with oblong spots of glossy blue, reflecting 

 tints of purple. Belly pale vinaceous brown, inclining to cinereous 

 near the vent. Quills dusky, the inner vanes ferruginous. Tail 

 rounded, the 2 middle feathers cinereous brown, the rest black, tipt 

 and edged with white. Legs and feet yellow. Bill yellow, black at 

 tip. Iris orange red. — In the female the back and tail-coverts are 

 nearly of a plain mouse-color. The throat speckled with dull white, 

 dusky, and muddy yellowish white ; the spots on the scapulars dark 

 purplish blood-color, reflecting tints of blue. 



