368 BULLETIN" 162, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



is clear, short, and rather high-pitched. It is more secluded in its habits 

 than any of the others, except the one I have lately found new to our fauna, 

 AecJimoptila albifrons. In point of numbers it is much less numerous than the 

 Carolina and the White-winged Doves ; still, it is quite extensively shot for 

 market. 



George N. Lawrence (1874) quotes Colpnel Grayson as follows: 



This fine species in some localities of Western Mexico is quite abundant, 

 particularly in the region of Mazatlan River. It frequents the larger forests, 

 and feeds upon various kinds of berries, acorns, and the tender buds of some 

 trees. It is partially gregarious but is often seen solitary and in pairs. 

 Small flocks of from twenty to fifty migrate from one part of the country to an- 

 other in search of its favorite food. I have found it at a considerable height on 

 the western slope of the Sierras Madres, feeding upon acorns, that are there 

 in abundance in some seasons. The flesh of this pigeon is tough, and some- 

 times bitter to the taste, caused by the bitter acorn, and also by an astringent 

 kind of berry, upon which they may be subsisting at the time. As a game 

 bird it is inferior to most of our pigeons for the table, but, being a large and 

 handsome bird it is sure to attract the attention of the gunner. They are not 

 easily approached, however, being very shy, and without the strictest caution 

 the hunter would not be able to fill his bag with this game in a long day's 

 tramp. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Central America north to the lower Rio Grande Valley; 

 nonmigratory. 



The range of the red-billed pigeon extends north to southern 

 Sonora (Sierra de Alamos) ; northeastern Sinaloa (El Toro) ; north- 

 ern Nuevo Leon (Alamo and Trevino) ; and southern Texas (Car- 

 rizo, Lomita, Hidalgo, and Brownsville). East to Texas (Hidalgo 

 and Brownsville) ; Tamaulipas (Matamoras, Rio Pilon, Rio Cruz, 

 Ciudad Victoria, Aldama, and Altamira) ; Vera Cruz (Tampico, 

 Misantla, Cordoba, and Alvarado) ; Yucatan (Tunkas and Chichen 

 Itza) ; and Costa Rica (Guayabo, This, and Dota). South to Costa 

 Rica (Dota, Naranjo, and Bolson) ; Salvador (Volcano San Mi- 

 guel) ; Guatemala (Esquintla, San Jose, Retalhuleu, and El Naran- 

 jo) ; Chiapas (Tonala) ; Oaxaca (Topana and Tehuantepec) ; Guer- 

 rero (Acapulco) ; and Jalisco (Las Penas). West to Jalisco (Las 

 Penas) ; Tepic (Cleofas Island and Tres Marias Islands) ; south- 

 western Sinaloa (Escuinapa, Presidio, and Mazatlan) ; and south- 

 ern Sonora (Sierra de Alamos). 



Casual records. — Bendire (1892) reports three specimens taken 

 near Fort Grant, in the foothills of the Graham Mountains, Ariz., 

 July 25, 1886. 



Egg dates. — Texas and Mexico : 79 records, March 1 to August 8 \ 

 40 records, April 23 to June 6. 



