6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 79 



one species only occurred on the island. This is a fine bird and 

 might rival the band-tailed species of the western United States 

 as a game bird. 



ZENAIDA ZENAIDA ZENAIDA (Bonaparte) 



Zenaida dove 



Columba zenaida Bonapabtb, Jouru. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 5, June, 

 1825, p. 30. (Florida Keys.) 



A female, taken on Grand Cayman, April 17, 1929, by G. B. 

 Pinchot, is like specimens from elsewhere in the range of this race. 

 It has the following measurements: Wing, 149.4; tail, 86.1; culmen 

 tvith cere, 13.4 ; tarsus, 22.5 mm. 



Ill this connection it is of interest to consider the status of Zenaida 

 spadicea Cory,^ which was recognized by Ridgway ^ after examination 

 of the original material, but which has not been found by subsequent 

 collectors. Bangs * in 1911 received 13 specimens of the Zenaida dove 

 from Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brae taken in 

 May, June, and July, 1911, by W. W. Brown, jr., and says that there 

 is no difference between birds from the three islands in question. 

 All are Zenaida z. zerialda^ and are similar to that race as found 

 throughout its extensive range. Bangs therefore cites Zenaida 

 spadicea Cory as a synonym of Zenaida zenaida zenaida (Bona- 

 parte), in which he seems to be entirely correct. 



Through the courtesy of Dr. C. E. Hellmayr the type and three 

 other specimens of Z. spadicea in the collection of the Field Museum 

 of Natural History have been available for examination. The type 

 is a male taken on Grand Cayman, August 23, 1886, by W. B. Rich- 

 ardson. The other three are marked as males and were secured on 

 the same island on August 18 and 23. They have the dimensions of 

 Zenaida z. zenaida^ but are very deeply rufescent in color, being 

 much darker than any true Zenaida doves seen, which is apparently 

 due in part to grease soaking out on the feathers ; in part, as Bangs 

 has already suggested, to wear, which has removed the bloom from 

 the plumage ; and in part possibly to something used as a preserva- 

 tive when the skins were prepared. The junior author considers 

 them stained, abnormal skins of Zenaida zenaida zenaida. This is 

 supported by the fact that Cory, in the Auk for 1886, page 502, in 

 listing the birds taken on Grand Cayman Island by W. B. Richard- 

 son during the expedition in question gives Zenaida spadicea as the 



'Zenaida spadicea Cory, Auk, 1886, p. 498. (Grand Cayman.) 



• U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50, pt. 7, 1916, p. 362. 



* Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 60, March, 1916, ppt 306-307. 



