426 BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



sticks, with a slight hollow lined with leaves and bark, and sometimes a few 

 feathers. 



P. H. Gosse (1847) writes: 



In the early months of the year, when the physic-nut (Jatropha curcas) is 

 ripening, and oranges come in, the Whitewing becomes plentiful in open 

 pastures, and the low woods in the neighbourhood of habitations ; the seeds of 

 these fruits, and the castor-oil nut, forming the principal part of their food. 

 At this time they are very easily shot, as they walk about on the ground. 

 From the ease with which they are procured, they are a good deal eaten, though 

 seldom fat, and rather subject to be bitter. 



When the rains fall, we see the Whitewings but seldom ; they betake them- 

 selves to the deep woods and impenetrable morasses, when their presence is 

 indicated by their loud stammering coo. 



Farinaceous and pulpy berries are found in the woods at all seasons, so that 

 the Pigeons and other frugivorous birds have not only abundance but variety. 

 Its nest is not very often met with. I am informed that it occasionally builds 

 in a pimento; Robinson says that it builds also in the orange, and sea-side 

 grape, in May, a very slight and narrow platform of rude twigs, and lays two 

 eggs, of a pale drab hue. 



We found this dove abundant in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties 

 in southern Texas, where it evidently was the most numerous bird, 

 next to the omnipresent great-tailed grackle, in the forests and 

 thickets about Brownsville. We found a few nests in the chaparral 

 and in the dense forests around the resacas, which I have already 

 described under the chachalaca. The nests were in low trees or 

 bushes and were made of small twigs, grasses, and weeds. George B. 

 Sennett (1878) found one nest made of Spanish-moss. The eggs 

 are like those of the western form, but average a little smaller. The 

 measurements of 33 eggs average 29.8 by 22.1 millimeters; the eggs 

 showing the four extremes measure 33 by 23, 31.5 by 24.5, 26.5 by 

 20.5, and 28 by 19.5 millimeters. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Southern United States, the West Indies, and Central 

 America. 



The range of the white-winged dove extends north to southern 

 California (Brawley and Palo Verde) ; Arizona (Little Meadows, 

 Big Sandy Creek, Congress Junction, New River, Roosevelt, and 

 Graham Mountains) ; New Mexico (Hidalgo County, Cloverdale, 

 Mesilla Park, and Cliff) ; southern Texas (Del Rio, Uvalde, Castro- 

 ville, San Antonio, Beeville, and probably High Island) ; the 

 Bahamas (Great Inagua Island) ; and the Lesser Antilles (St. Bar- 

 tholomew Island). East to the Lesser Antilles (St. Bartholomew 

 Island). South to the Lesser Antilles (St. Bartholomew Island); 

 Haiti (Mount La Laguneat and Gonave Island) ; Jamaica (Spanish- 

 town and Port Henderson) ; Costa Rica (La Palm a) ; Nicaragua 



