COLUMBID.K — THE PIGKOXS. 



377 



Melopdia leucoptera. 



City of ifexico (Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, 17S) ; Southeastern Texas, breeding (Dresser, Ibis, 

 1S66, 24) ; Cuba (GrxDL. Rep. I, 186(i, :i()l) ; Fort Whipple, Arizona (CouEs, P. A. N. S. 

 1866, 93); Costa Ric.i (Lawr. IX. i:3!l) ; Yucatan (Lawr. IX, 207). 



However reiiiai-kalilo and exccptidiial the distribution oF this species may 

 appear in occurring in Cuba and Jamaica and in IVIexico, from tiie Atlantic 

 coast to Cape St. Lucas, and north 

 to Santa F^, New Mexico, we 

 have yet been unable to find any 

 tangible dift'erences in specimens 

 from these extreme localities. 

 The Jamaica bird has rather a 

 more decided wash of brown on 

 the neck and forehead, the toes 

 apparently shorter ; but as speci- 

 mens from the .same locality vary 

 in this respect, it is probable that 

 in a large series such differences 

 will disappear in the average. 



Habits. This species is found on the Lower Ilio Grande, in Arizona, and, 

 according to Dr. Cooper, in California. It also occurs in Mexico, and was 

 taken in Tamaulipas by Lieutenant Couch, March, 1858. It has also been 

 met with in several of the West India Islands and in Central America. 



This species is abundant in Jamaica, where, according to Mr. March, it is 

 more a lowland than a mountain Dove. They are said to be gregarious, 

 usually keeping in flocks of from ten to twenty, but in January and in Feb- 

 ruary, in the Guinea-corn season, and at other tiiues when the Ccrci are in 

 fruit, they congTegate in large flocks, often of several hundreds. Their food 

 is principally grain and seeds, but they are ec|ually fond of the ripe fruit of 

 the different species of Ccirtis abounding on the savannas and salines dur- 

 ing tbe summer. Inland, the White-wings, in the same manner as the 

 Baldpate, breed in solitary pairs ; but in the mangrove swamps, and in the 

 islands along the coast, they breed in company, many in the same tree. The 

 nest is a frail platform of sticks, with a slight hollow lined with leaves and 

 bark, and sometimes a few feathers. The eggs are two, of an oblong-oval shape, 

 glarish-white in color, measuring 1.31 inches in length by .94 of an inch in 

 breadth. ]Mr. March adds that the AYhite-wing is often kept in confinement, 

 where it occasionally breeds. It is at first quite wild, fluttering in alarm at 

 the approach of any person, but afterwards becomes i[uite docile if attended 

 with care. It has been known to cross and mate with the Turtur risorius, a 

 bird which has been introduced into Jamaica. Mr. JMarch had, at the time 

 his paper appeared, a male White-wing mated with a female Eingdove. 



This species was found at Omoa, Honduras, by Mr. Leyland, and by Mr. 

 Salvin about Dueiias, Guatemala, where it was one of the common Doves. 

 It was found on the ground, in the open savannas. 



VOL. III. 48 



