1887.] PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATED NATIONAL MUSEUM. 657 



places which, on accoiiut of their inaccessibility, I did uot visit while at 

 Leon Springs. In the report of the Mexican Boundary Survey the bird 

 is mentioned as occurring near San Antonio (Vol. II, Birds, ii. 23.) 

 Dresser found it in the Bandera Hills 30 or 40 miles northwest of San 

 Antonio. It is locally known as the " Black Quail." 



Family PHASIANID.T5. Pheasants, etc. 

 Genus MELEAGRIS Lixn.eus. 



91. Meleagris gallopavo (LixN.). Wild Turkey. 



I did not see or eat the Wild Turkey while in Texas, but heard of it 

 froQi residents at all of the places visited, who all united in saying that 

 it is much less numerous than formerly, particularly in Bexar County. 

 The total extinction of this bird, through the agency of man, seems to 

 be merely a question of time. Brown notes it as occurring near Boerne, 

 and when Dresser wrote it was " common in all parts of Texas " that 

 he visited. It is possible that the turkey found in Bexar, Bee, and 

 Nueces counties is M. gallopavo mexicana, but as no specimens were 

 secured this point can not be definitely settled. 



Order COLUMBzE. Pigeons. 



Family COLUMBID^E. Pigeons. 



Geuus ZENAIDURA Boxaparte. 



92. Zenaidura macroura (Lixx.). Mourniug Dove. 



I found this dove abundant at all of the places visited; generally in 

 small flocks of four or five individuals. Brown reports it as occurring 

 in great numbers at Boerne. It breeds at San Antonio and Corpus 

 Christi, and doubtless wherever it is found. Dresser found a nest con- 

 taining eggs as late as September 1. The following interesting note is 

 from Hancock's j)aper: 



" That evening (March 27) we pitched our camp by the side of a river 

 about 20 miles from Corpus Christi. We were partly inclosed by 

 large oak and ebony trees. Just after supper the whistling of the 

 wings of the doves could be heard as they flew over our heads to alight 

 on the side of the stream for a drink. In succession they came, some 

 in pairs, while again single ones would come one after another only to 

 stop long enough for a drink, when they would disappear as myste- 

 riously as they came. This procession lasted until very late into the 

 night, when by degrees it ceased." 



Genus COLUMBIGALLINA Boie. 



93. Columbigallina passerina (Lixx.). Ground Dove. 



The only record of the occurrence of the Ground Dove within our 

 limits is the statement of Dresser that he found one close to the Medina 

 Proc. N. M. 87^—42 



