78 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



bands about ploughed fields and open pastures. I have had but few chances 

 to observe the species, and have seen no specimens from west of Holguin. 



137. Columba leucocephala Linne. 

 White-crowned Pigeon; Paloma Cabeziblanca. 



The White-crowned Pigeon is of irregular appearance in any given 

 locality, its presence depending on the abundance of the fruits upon which 

 it feeds. It is essentially a coastal form, and one which is always gregarious. 

 It roosts in great hordes, usually on some mangrove islet, and bands sally 

 forth each morn to feed, returning from their distant foragings at dusk. 

 Then they rush and swirl into the greater resorts, or palomares, in incredible 

 hosts. Famous roosts are Moraine Cay north of Grand Bahama, where 

 I have shot, and Green Cay south of New Providence. Gundlach speaks 

 of their seldom being seen in Cuba except when nesting, which they do at 

 various seasons of the year. This intermittent appearance is noticed 

 everywhere. They are in the Florida Keys in summer only, but not every 

 summer in equal numbers; in certain of the Bahamas they abound at one 

 season, elsewhere at others. The fact is, the individual bands are capable 

 of long flights, and move far and wide as food supplies dictate. Great 

 numbers are slaughtered by hunters, who build an ambush near roost or 

 rookery and kill the returning birds as they fly in just before dark. 

 Unfortunately this leaves many young birds to starve. 



138. Columba squamosa Bonaterre. 

 Scaly-naped Pigeon; Torcaza Morada. 



In western and central Cuba this beautiful Pigeon is by no means 

 common at the present time. It is a highland bird but not e.xclusively 

 confined to mountain ranges. One finds the Torcaza Morada usually 

 perched high on the dead branches of some towering tree, most often on 

 cliffs or steepish slopes. The birds seem sluggish and make short flights, 

 booming their heavy, sonorous call through the heat of the day. Attempt 

 to approach, and the bird is off, for no Pigeon is more alert. Its flesh is 

 excellent, and the body is heavy beyond other local species. In appearance 



