1886.1 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 625 



Since I last wrote you I have been able to procure four live speci- 

 mens of the Dove called "Pea Dove" on my list. One of these died 

 a day or two ago, and I send you the skin per book-post, which I trust 

 will reach you and serve to identify the bird. The skin is a poor one, 

 as the bird had injured itself considerably by fluttering in the cage, and 

 the person who caught it had dipt off the ends of the wing feathers to 

 prevent its flying away. However, I thought that it might still serve 

 the purpose of identification, so I send it per post. 



[This species is described in The Auk, vol. I, p. 180. — G. N. L.] 



[Since my description of this species, the type of which is a female, 

 Mr. Wells has obtained and isent me a fine adult specimen of the male, 

 "shot at Glover's Island, a mile from the south end. May 25, 1886." 



Mr. Wells was correct when he wrote: "I believe the male to have a 

 gray head." 



It differs from the female in the front being vinous, in having the 

 crown of a bluish-gray color, which color extends on the hind neck, but 

 there it is of a duller shade. The lower part of the back, rump, and 

 upper tail coverts are of a rather darker and duller bluish gray than 

 ' the crown. The color of the breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts, in 

 this specimen, are of a much paler cinnamon, and the quills are darker 

 than those of the female, being blackish brown. In all other respects 

 they are alike. 



The feet are dark carmine, much brighter than in the female as 

 shown at present, the color in that having faded. — G. N. L.] 



45. Columbigallina passerina (Linn). Ground Dove; Ortolan. 



S Length, 6^ inches, expanse, lOf inches ; wing, 3^ inches. 



Common. Found along the roadside, iu the pastures, and along the 

 sea-shore ; nests on the bare ground, or on a short stump or tuft of 

 grass; a rude nest formed of dried stalks and grass, in which it lays 

 two pure white eggs measuring .85 inch by .60 inch. 



46. Geotrygon montana (Linn). Perdrix; Mountain Dove. 



^Length, 9f inches; expanse, 17f inches; wing, 6 inches; tail, 3 

 inches. 



9 Length, d^ inches; expanse, 17 inches; wing, 6 inches; tail, 2f 

 inches. 



Traveling along our mountain roads in the early morning, the plaintive 

 moan of this beautiful dove is often heard; and among the cocoa fields 

 and nutmeg groves one or two brace may be flushed morning and 

 evening. It is essentially a ground pigeon, and seeks its food by 

 scratching amongst the fallen leaves for small seeds, gravel, &c. It is 

 very i)artial to seeds of the "Christmas bush" tree, or wild pimento. 

 The beautiful bright chestnut of the male makes it conspicuous in con. 

 trast with the sober olive-brown of the female ; hence the former more 

 often falls a victim to the gun. They are easily caught alive in springs 

 Proc. N. M., 86 40 Feb. 11,1887. 



