496 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Genus STARNCENAS Bonaparte. 



Starnoenas Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, 41. (Type, by monotypy, 



Columba q/anocephala Linnajus.) 

 Starnsenas (emendation) Gray, Gen. Birds, ii, 1845, 479. 

 Sternoenas (emendation) Reichenbach, Syn. Av., 1847, figs. 1445, 1446. 

 Pcrdicopdia Van der Hoeven, Ilandb. der Zool., ed. 2, ii, 1855, 680. (Type, 



Columba cyanocephala Linnseus.) 



Medium-sized ground pigeons resembling Oreojyeleia but with tarsus 

 covered, all round, with hexagonal scales (mstead of transverse scu- 

 tella, in front and smooth behind) , relatively stouter tarsus and toes, 

 and very differently colored head. 



Bill relatively small and weak, the exposed culmen much less than 

 half as long as tarsus, the culmen and gonys moderately arched. 

 Wing relatively small, very concave beneath, much rounded, the 

 longest primaries exceedmg distal secondaries by decidedly more than 

 length of tarsus; second, third, and fourth primaries (from outside) 

 longest, the first (outermost) intermediate between fifth and sixth, 

 strongly bowed or arched. Tail less than three-fifths as long as wing, 

 slightly rounded, the rectrices rather broad, rounded at tips, and 

 rather rigid. Tarsus more than one-fourth its length longer than 

 middle toe (without claw), stout, covered, all round, with rather 

 small hexagonal scales, these larger in front, the tibio-tarsal joint and 

 extreme lower portion of tibia (except in front) naked; lateral toes of 

 equal length, reaching, with their claws, to base of middle claw, or 

 slightly beyond; hallux rather short, about equal in length to first 

 phalanx of middle toe; toes with prominent scales and conspicuous, 

 scalloped, pads. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage in general quite normal (much 

 as in the species of Oreopeleia, but the feathers rather more distinctly 

 outlined), except on sides of head and on neck, those of the suborbital 

 and malar regions, chin, and upper throat small and short, those of 

 sides of neck longer and scale-like (imbricated) ; frontal antia extend- 

 ing forward beyond middle of nasal operculi, forming a single obtuse 

 point on mesorhinium; orbital region naked. Coloration plain brown 

 above, more rufescent or vinaceous-brown below; pileum dull blue; 

 throat, foreneck, and median portion of chest black, the posterior 

 portion bordered by a line of white; a white stripe on side of head, from 

 chin beneath eyes to occiput. 



Range. — Cuba, Jamaica (where now extirpated), and Florida Keys. 

 (Monotypic.) 



