COLrMBID.E — THE PIGEONS. 



30] 



Columba fasciata. 



variation in the 

 this varies from 



metallic golden-green, with an occasional bronzy reflection, the feathers somewhat 



squamate. Bill and Ibct yellow, the former blacU at the end ; iris red. Leng-th, abont 



15.00; wing, 8.80; tail, 6.10. Female smaller, and less deeply colored, the purplish tint 



more ashy ; sometimes with the 



nuchal white band obsolete or 



wanting ; the abdomen whitish, 



etc. 



Hab. Pacific Province of 

 United States, and table-lands 

 of Mexico, to Guatemala. Oax- 

 aca (Sol. 1858, 304) ; Xalapa, 

 1859, 369 (Cordova, 1856, 359) ; 

 Guatemala (Salvin, Ibis, II, 

 276) ; Fort Whipple, Arizona 

 (CouES, P. A. N. S. 1866, 93); 

 Vera Cruz, alpine region (Sum. 

 M. Bost. Soc. I, 562). 



Specimens — even those 

 from the same locality — 

 vary a great deal in size, 



particularly as to the bill, and tliere is also cousiderablt 

 shade and depth as well as the extent of the purplisli tint 

 a purplish-chocolate tint to nearly violaceous, and sometimes tinges the ends 

 of the lower tail-coverts ; sometimes the back lias faint Ijronzy retiections. 

 Guatemalan skins liave tlie white edgings to the wing-coverts less conspicu- 

 ous than in uortliern ones, showing an approximation to the features of var. 

 alhUinca of Costa liica ; they also have a shorter bill than California speci- 

 mens. Oregon birds, on the other hand, have longer bills than the Califor- 

 nia, and are considerably darker in color. 



Habits. The Band-tailed Pigeon was first met with in Long's expedition 

 to the Eocky Mountains, and descrilied by Say in 1823. It is found from 

 tlie northern Eocky Mountains westward to the Pacific, and from Central 

 America northward along the whole of the Pacific Coast as far to tlte nortli 

 as Wasliingtun Territory, and probably portions of British Columbia. 



Mr. Townsend, quoted by Audubon, noticed this Pigeon from the eastern 

 spurs of the Eocky Mountains across to the Columliia Eiver, wltere it was 

 very abundant. He noticed their arrival in very great numbers on the 17th of 

 April, and they continued in large flocks even wliile breeding. Their lireeding- 

 places were on the banks of the river, the eggs were placed on tlie ground, 

 under small bushes without any nest, where numbers congregated togetlier. 

 The eggs were two in number, and are described as of a yellowish-white color, 

 some inclining to a bluisli-white with minute white dots at the larger end. 



These birds feed on the berries of the black-elder and the buds of the 

 balsam poplar. When sitting on tlie trees, they Iniddle close together in the 

 manner of the Carolina Parrot, and many may Ik; killed at a single discharge. 

 Their flesh is said to be tender, juicy, and fine eating. 



VOL. in. 46 



