376 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus MELOPELIA, Boxap. 



Mdopelia, Bonap. Consp. II, Dec. 1854, Si. (Type, Columba leucoptcra, L.) 



Gex. Char. Similar to Zenaida; the orbital region and lore more naked; the bill 

 longer ; the middle toe longer ; the hinder .shorter. Tarsal .■^cutelliB in a single series 

 anteriorly. First quill nearly as long a.s the second and third. A large ■white patch on 

 wing-coverts, lower parts light ashy. 



This genus, like nearly all the North American ones, is rei^resented by 

 but a single species in the United States. 



Melopelia leucoptera, Lixx.) Bonap. 



WHITE-WINGED DOVE. 



Columba leucoptcra, Lixx. Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 164 (Jamaica). — Gii. Syst. Xat. I, 1788, 

 773. _ Wagl. Syst. Av. 1827, Columba, No. 71. — McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. IV, 

 1848, 64. Zenaida leucoptcra, Guay, Gen. B. Turtur hutopUnis, GossE, B. Jam. 

 1847, 304. Melopelia leucoptcra, Boxap. Consp. Av. II, 1854, 81. — Baikd, Birds N. 

 Am. 1858, 603. — Keichexb. Handb. Tank 22, tab. 254, f. 1417; 255, f. 2869.— 

 Map.ch, p. a. N. S. 1863, 302. —Cooper, Ora. Cal. I, 1870, 515. .' Columba koilotl, 

 Gm. S. N. I, 1788, 777. Columba Irudcaui, AuD. Birds Am. VII, 1843, 352, pi. 

 ccccxcvi. 



Sp. CnAE. General color fine ashy, with an olivaceous cast on upper surface, the middle 

 tail-feathers being decidedly brownish ; secondaries and primaries blackish. Beneath paler 



a.shy, with alight drab cast anteriorly 

 (lightest on the throat), the abdomen 

 and sides with a fine light-bluish cast; 

 anal region white, cris.sum more 

 bluish. Occiput with a purplish 

 tinge. A .spot of black, with steel- 

 blue reflection below the ears ; a 

 large patch of white on the wing, 

 covering the lower coverts from the 

 elbow to the secondaries ; secondaries 

 margined terminally with white. 

 Terminal fourth of tail-feathers, 

 except the two medial, ashy-white, 

 preceded by a subterminal blackish 

 band. Male with faint purplish- 

 golden reflections on the sides of 

 the neck, and the throat and jugu- 

 lum inclining to ochrey-vinaceous ; 

 the occiput and nape decided purplish. Female with this scarcely apparent. Male: 

 wing, G.80; tail, 5.10; cuhnen, .8-i ; tarsus, LOG; middle toe, 1.10. Female slightly 

 smaller. 



Hab. Southern border of United States, from Texas to Arizona and Lower California ; 

 Mexico, south to Costa Rica, Cuba and Jamaica, Oaxaca, highlands (Sol. 1853, 305) ; 

 Cordova (1856, 309) ; Jamaica (Gosse, B. J. 304) ; Honduras (Taylor, Ibis, II, 227) ; 



Mdopdia leucoptcra, Bonap. 



