182 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



in the top of some open tree, frequently an ombii, to rest in the sun. 

 They were common in groves of tala or ombii trees in the eastern 

 pampas, and flushed constantly with clapping wings as I passed 

 near them. Others fed along the walks or in the extensive open 

 grounds surrounding estancia houses. 



From October to February birds were found in pairs, though 

 flocks gathered to feed in suitable localities. Males called at this 

 season, giving a low, sad-toned whoo lohoo whoo whoo-oo in a gut- 

 tural tone with little carrying power or volume of sound. When 

 •about to coo the upper part of the throat was expanded with air. 

 ]Males often sailed with set wings in short circles above the trees, 

 with the throat distended with air, so that with their short tails 

 they presented an odd, rounded appearance — display flights that 

 ended by a descent to some perch. As flocks of birds flew past me 

 individuals suddenly darted sideways to produce a rattling sound 

 with their wings. A nest found February 2, 1921, near San Vicente, 

 Uruguay, was composed of a few weed stems and twigs placed on a 

 foundation of an old nest of some oscinine, in the fork of a small 

 tree more than 2 meters from the ground. It contained two eggs too 

 hard set to save. A second nest, built like the first on fragments of 

 the old nest of some perching bird, was a slight mat of fine twigs in 

 the limbs of a small tree 2 meters from the earth. A third, recorded 

 February 14 at Rio Negro, Uruguay, placed more than 2 meters from 

 the ground amid dense limbs of a shrub, was a slightly cupped 

 platform of twigs so loose in construction that the eggs were visible 

 through it from below. All nests examined contained eggs so hard 

 set that they could not be blown. February 6 to 8, while working 

 near Lazcano, I found young three-quarters grown, able to fly, in 

 thickets growing in sandy soil near the Rio CeboUati. 



After the breeding season Zenaida doves congregated Avherever 

 food was abundant and frequently forsook areas where they had been 

 common earlier in the year. Grain or hemp fields v\'ere especially 

 attractive, as were tracts where certain large-seeded weeds were 

 common. The species is hunted for game, but no more so than other 

 small birds. The flesh is similar to that of other wild pigeons, 



PICAZUROS PICAZURO PICAZURO (Tcmminck) 



Columba Picazura Temminck, Hist. Nat. Pig. Gall., vol. 1, 1S13, pp. Ill, 

 449. (Paraguay.) 



At the Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, this large pigeon was common 

 during my stay in August, 1920, and two adult males were killed 

 on August 16. The birds were gregarious while feeding or resting, 

 but in flight across country were found alone or in bands of small 

 size. They frequented the open savannas where recent burns at- 



