ZENAIDA DOVE 421 



utters his cooing song, which he repeats at rather regular, but protracted 

 intervals. 



This song begins with two notes, the first uttered with a falling inflection, 

 the second with a rising. The second follows the lirst rather quickly and is 

 not as prolonged. Both are in a low key. Then follows three other notes, 

 sounding like " Who, who, who," but there is a decided pause between the first 

 two; the last three are given in the same time and in the same key. The notes 

 are all loud, but when softened by distance have a singularly mournful effect. 



The notes of this bird which I have described above are very loud and on 

 a still morning can be heard for a long distance. The males begin to coo 

 w ith the first indication of the dawn, and begin to fly about some time before 

 sunrise. They also coo at sunset and continue to utter their mournful notes 

 until darkness fairly begins. 



Enemies. — One of the worst enemies of this and other ground- 

 nesting- birds is the mongoose, but fortunately the dove has developed 

 the tree-nesting habit in certain places, perhaps as a result of pred- 

 atory attacks. Several writers speak of it as an important and 

 popular game bird and much in need of protection. Mr. Danforth 

 (1925) says: 



This species is probably preyed upon to some extent by the Mongoose, although 

 its nesting habits make it more immune to attack than the Ground Dove. The 

 /■jenaida Dove is one of the most-sought-for game birds on the Island, and justly 

 so, as its meat is of good flavor, and it is so wary that one has to be an expert 

 marksman to obtain many. But it has a disadvantage in that it frequently flies 

 long distance after being shot before it falls, making the recovery of the birds 

 shot very difficult. Often but a small percentage of the birds killed are 

 recovered, especially when one is hunting in rough country. The few that I 

 have shot were lost in this manner. 



DISTRIBUTIOX 



Range. — The West Indies, including the Bahama Islands, and the 

 coast of Yucatan; casual visitor on the Florida Keys. Generally 

 nonmigratory. 



The range of the Zenaida dove extends north to northern Yucatan 

 (Progreso and Holbox Islands) ; northwestern Cuba (San Cristobal 

 and Habana) ; southern Florida (Indian Key) ; and the Bahama 

 Islands (Great Bahama and Stranger Cay). East to the Bahama 

 Islands (Stranger Cay, Moraine Cay, Abaco Island, Nassau, Cat 

 Island, Watlings Islands, Acklin Island, North Caicos, Grand 

 Caicos, and East Caicos) ; and the Lesser Antilles (Sombrero Is- 

 land, Barbuda Island, Antigua Island, Grande Terre, Barbados 

 Island, and Grenada). South to the Lesser Antilles (Grenada and 

 St. Croix Island) ; southern Porto Rico (Comerio, the Cartagena 

 Lagoon, and Mona Island): southern Haiti (San Domingo); 

 Jamaica (Spanishtown, Port Henderson, Cayman Brae, Little Cay- 

 man, and Grand Cayman) ; and the coast of Yucatan (Mujeres 



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