564 



NUHTII AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Sr, 

 head, 



CiiAii. General color very (lark slate-blue, primariesaud tail darker. Upper half of the 

 from the hill to the nape, pui-e white, not reaching the edge of the eyelids ; a triangular 



patch of dark maroon-purple 

 on the occiput, and below it a 

 semicircular " cape " covering 

 the nape, of metallic brassy- 

 green, each feather distinctly 

 bordered e.xternally with velvety- 

 black, producing a squamate ap- 

 pearance. Bill deep purple, the 

 end light blue ; iris white ; legs 

 deep lake-red. In skins the bill 

 dusky tipped with yellowish, the 

 feet yellow. Sexes similar. 

 Length, 1:3.50 ; wins, 7.00 ; tail, 

 5.80. 



Hab. Southern Keys of Florida 

 (including Indian Key) and West 

 Indies generally. Honduras 

 (MooRK, p. Z. S. 18.59, 61); 

 Santa Cruz (Newton, Ibis, I, 

 253) ; Cuba (Cab. .J. IV, 107) ; 



CoiiiTTtba hitcocephala. 



Bahamas (Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. VII, 1859) ; Jamaica (GossE, B. J. 299; ; Porto Rico 

 (Tavlor, Ibis, 1864, 171) ; Cuba (Gcndl. Repert. I, 18GG, 298); Santa Bartholemy (Sund. 

 Ofv. 1809, 585). 



Habits. The "VNTiite-headed Pigeon occurs in the more southern of the 

 keys of Florichi, but, so iar as I am aware, lias never been taken on any part 

 of the mainland. It is au abundant species in (.'uba, Jamaica, and iu most 

 of the other West India Islands. 



This Dove, according to Audubon, arrives on the southern keys of Florida 

 about the 20th of April, sometimes not until the first of May. On the 30th 

 of April he shot several just after their arrival from across the Gulf Stream. 

 He noticed them as tliey approached the shore, skimming along the surface 

 of the water, and flying with great rapidity, iu the manner of the House 

 Pigeon. As they approached the land the}'' rose to about a hundred yards, 

 flying in circles as if to survey the country. To procure specimens, it was 

 necessary to force them out from the dark retreats in which they had 

 alighted. They M-ere at all times exceedingly shy and wary, probably on 

 account of the war that is incessantly waged against them, their flesh lieiuL;' 

 very juicy and finely flavored. This sliyness is only ]iartially abated even 

 during the breeding-season, as they will silently slide from their nest when 

 sitting, if it is approached, and retreat to tbe dark shade of the mangroves, and 

 do not return for an interval to their charge. They were more abundant iu 

 the more southern keys, except the sterile Tortugas. 



According to Mr. March, there are two varieties of tliis Pigeon, known as 

 the Baldpate in Jamaica, distinguished as the Mountain and the Mangrove 

 BaldjDate. The latter he has never met with iu the mountains, but both 



