252 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations 



XXV. — Observations on the Birds of St. Croix, West Indies, 

 made, betiveen February 20th and August 6th 1857 by Alfred 

 Newton, and, betiveen March Mh and September 28th 1858 

 by Edward Newton. (Part III.) 



[Contiuued from page 150.] 



t 25. Grey Pigeon. Columba corensis, Gmel. C. portori- 

 censis, Temm., Pig. pi. 3 5; d'Orb. Voy. de Pile de Cuba, Ois. 

 pi. 27. C. monticola, Vieill. C. imbricata, Wagl. " Blue Pigeon." 



This fine bird is commonly said to be a visitor from Porto 

 Kico, and not to breed in the island; but we are inclined to think 

 it occasionally docs so. It is not very abundant, and is generally 

 seen in small flocks of six or seven. It appears to feed sometimes 

 on the blossom of the Mountain-cabbage, and chiefly frequents 

 the hills in the north of the island, but now and then may be 

 observed in the extensive tract of bush-land on the south side. 

 Its flight is very like that of our Wood Pigeon (C palumbus, L.). 

 The bill is bright lake, yellowish-white at the tip of both man- 

 dibles. The skin round the eye nearly bare and of a dull red, 

 with a little fine yellow bloom upon it. The iris is double, the 

 inner ring scarlet, the outer and nan*ower one golden-yellow, 

 legs and feet lake, claws dark hora-colour. 



"The manager of the Great Fountain Estate told me that 

 many years ago he had a young ' Blue Pigeon ' brought to him 

 alive from the nest. It lived with him a long time, and became 

 exceedingly familiar, but of course, like all pets, came to an un- 

 happy end." — A. N. 



" On April 29th, 1858, I observed some boys looking up into 

 a Thibet-tree not a hundred yards from the shore, close to the 

 town of Frederiksted; and going to the spot, found they were 

 watching a bird of this species which one of them said he had seen 

 fly in from the sea that morning. The bird was evidently much 

 tired, and remained for two hours in the same place, when, risking 

 the displeasure of the Danish authorities, I shot it. It proved 

 to be a male, and, though in good condition, had nothing in its 

 crop but a few leaves of the Thibet Tree, which it had probably 

 plucked oflp as it sat. I continued to see this species up to the 

 time of my departure from the island." — E. N. 



