218 Mr. F. Du Cane Godman on the Resident and 



came to feed in the early morning upon the fruit of the laurel 

 {Persea indica). There were three or four more in this flock; 

 but though I watched for them afterwards for two or three days 

 under the same tree, they would not come within shot. I saw this 

 Pigeon also in the laurel-forest of Taraconte, where I spent a 

 ^couple of days after them without success. I here, however, 

 found three old nests, which the " Guarda " told me belonged to 

 this Pigeon. They were either in the tree heath or laurel trees, 

 about twenty feet from the ground, and built of sticks, much the 

 same as our Wood-Pigeon^s. I afterwards found this bird more 

 abundant in the forest of Taganana, at the east end of the island, 

 about 5000 feet above the sea, where I procured the rest of my 

 specimens. It is a very shy bird ; and the best way to get them 

 is to hide under the laurel trees where it comes to feed. It is 

 occasionally seen early in the morning, lower down upon the 

 patches of corn, but always returns to the dark forests during 

 the middle of the day, at which time they do not fly much 

 unless disturbed. Those I killed had their crops full of the 

 fruit of the Persea indica. 



58. tCoLUMBA LIVIA, Limi. 



W. & B. Orn. Can. p. 27; Bolle, J. fiir Orn. 1855, p. 172, 

 and 1857, p. 330 ; Vern. Hare. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 2, 1855, 

 XV. p. 437. 



Very common in the Canaries, Madeira, and Azores ; it is also 

 abundant on the Desertas. It breeds in the cliff's over the sea. 

 In all tbree groups of islands this species is very variable in 

 colour. The greater part are exceedingly dark all over ; some 

 have white above the tail, while others want it; some are like 

 ordinary Rock-Pigeons. I have also seen a few with white 

 patches on the wings. It is possible these last may be escaped 

 domesticated birds. 



59. tCoLUMBA AFRA, Linn. 



W. & B. Orn. Can. p. 28; Bolle J. fur Orn. 1855, p. 173, 

 and 1857, p. 331. 



Either this species or the common Turtledove comes to the 

 eastern islands regularly every year. It arrives in spring, and 

 breeds there, leaving again in autumn. I saw several about Tara- 



