452 BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The cooing of this species is not so soft or prolonged as that of the common 

 dove, or of the Zenaida dove, and yet nut so emphatical as that of any true 

 pigeon with which I am acquainted. It may be imitated by pronouncing the 

 following syllables: lYhoe-whoe-oh-olb-oh. When suddenly approached by m:iu, 

 it emits a guttural gasping-like sound, somewhat in the manner of the common 

 tame pigeon on such an occasion. They alight on the lower branches of shrubby 

 trees, and delight in the neighbourhood of shady ponds, but always inhabit, by 

 preference, the darkest solitudes. 



Doctor Barbour (1923) says: 



This ground dove has habits much like those of the Perdiz and is often 

 caught for food by the same means. Its flesh is excellent, although less es- 

 teemed than the Perdiz. It is known as " Torito," the little bull, from its 

 habit of bobbing, or " Barbequejo," from the moustache-like markings. This, 

 like the following species, is also called " Boyero," or Ox Driver, for its note, an 

 oft repeated and prolonged monosyllablic coo, somewhat resembles the noise 

 constantly made by men urging their oxen to strain to a heavy load. 



The Geotrygons, as I still like to call them, walk slowly about on the ground 

 with the head usually pulled in and not extended, and not bobbing except when 

 disturbed or frightened. Then they bob vigorously, as does the Perdiz all the 

 time, and this species is, I think, the shyest and most prone to take flight of 

 any of the group. 



L. J. K. Brace (1877), referring to the habits of the Key West 

 quail dove in the Bahamas, writes: 



This beautiful bird is frequently met with in the coppices underneath the 

 trees of which it delights to feed, preferring for this purpose those parts which 

 are rather open beneath, and less choked up with undergrowths, its habit being 

 to feed almost exclusively on the ground, on berries and seeds, more particularly 

 on the berries of the " poison wood," on the fruit of which, amongst others, the 

 Patagioenas leucocephala feeds also. On being flushed, it scarcely, if ever, flies 

 to any distance, generally alighting after a short curved flight. Its note is 

 peculiarly mournful, being an expiring groan, which is rather startling to hear 

 if the cause of it is not known. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Key West, Fla., and the northern West Indies. Non- 

 migratory. 



The range of the Key West quail dove is greatly restricted. It 

 extends north to southern Florida (Key West only) and the Bahama 

 Islands (New Providence). East to the Bahama Islands (New 

 Providence) ; San Domingo (Aguacate and Samana Bay) ; and pos- 

 sibly Porto Rico (Mona Island). South to possibly Porto Rico 

 (Mona Island) ; and Cuba (Isle of Pines). West to Cuba (Isle of 

 Pines) and southern Florida (Key West). 



Audubon reported that this species left Key West about the middle 

 of October, but other observers have since recorded their presence 

 as late as the middle of November. 



Egg dates. — Bahamas and Cuba : 9 records, April 5 to May 2. 



