2L Ml'. li. E. Dresser o)i the Birds of Southern Texas. 



Melopelia leucoptera (Linnaeus). White-winged Dove. 



Very common near Matamoras, Brownsville, and as far in 

 Texas as the Sal Colorado, after which it becomes rare, and I 

 never saw one further north or east than the Rio Nueces. It 

 is not uncommon at Eagle Pass, where I saw many in cages at 

 the huts of the Mexicans. 



Male. Bill purplish-black ; iris bright orange; the bare space 

 round the eye bright powder-blue ; legs coral-red, with a tinge 

 of lake. Stomach containing maize and caterpillars. 



Zenaidura CAROLiNENSis (Linnseus) . Carolina Dove. 



Common and resident in every part of Mexico and Texas that 

 I visited. I found many nests of this bird near San Antonio in 

 June, all very slightly built of sticks, placed on the branch of 

 a mezquite tree or bush, and containing two pure white eggs. 

 I have, however, in two instances seen nests on the ground. I 

 have also found this bird breeding very late in the year; indeed 

 I saw a nest containing two fresh eggs, in a mezquite tree near 

 Barton's Bancho, between San Antonio and Brownsville, on the 

 7th of September, 1863. 



CHAMiEPELiA PASSERINA (LinnsGus). Ground-Dovc. 



During my stay at Matamoras I found this bird rather com- 

 mon, and generally noticed them on the road between Mata- 

 moras and Brownsville, as well as on a sand-plain close to Fort 

 Brown; on the Texan side of the river. In the interior of Texas 

 I never observed any, except in April 1864, when I saw one 

 close to the Medina River, near San Antonio. 



Male (shot 11th July, 1863) . Beak purplish-black; iris bright 

 red ; legs flesh-coloured. Stomach containing small seeds. 



Ortalida maccalli, Baird. Chiacalacca. 



This bird is very common near Matamoras and Brownsville; 

 ai.d ni the autumn great numbers are exposed in the market for 

 sale at the former place. The Mexicans hold the Chiacalacca 

 in high esteem for its fighting- qualities, and often keep it in a 

 domesticated state, and, crossing it, it is said, with the common 

 fowl, use the mule birds for cock-fighting; indeed by many 

 they are considered far superior to the pure-bred game-cocks*. 



* This statement I am awai'e will scarcely be received without hesita- 



