BLOND AND WHITE UIXfi-DOVES CROSSED WITH MOURNING-DOVES, ETC. 125 



the ring in the ring-dove and to the iridescent area in the mourning-dove) are slightly- 

 differentiated in color, having a stronger "vinous" tinge than the other feathers, and having 

 the ends cut a little short and rigid in outline, suggesting the feathers of the ring. These 

 feathers are plainly shorter than other feathers, and in some I notice that one web is cut 

 shorter at the tip than is the other web; in these the ring-differentiation takes effect in 

 only one web, or in one-half or one-third of one loeb. The vinous tinge seems to look 

 plainly towards iridescence, and is in fact slightly iridescent in favorable light. The 

 same description (throughout) applies to hybrid male 12 of the same series. (A 1/9) 



The description of a carolmensisxalba-risuria hybrid (Al, April 8, 1897, of table 

 103) at the time of its death, 29 days after hatching, is given by the author as follows : 



The interesting point in regard to color is the "washed-out appearance of the black 

 spots," and the "reduction in number" of these spots. The general plumage color corre- 

 sponds with the first plumage of the mourning-dove, but it is notably lighter, as if fading 

 into or towards isabelline. The mother's influence is here apparent. The feathers are all 

 edged with isabelline as in the mourning-dove. The primaries are dark, nuich as in the 

 mourning-dove, but the edging at the free ends is not so deep and rich. 



I note the following concerning the spots: In the young mourning-dove (1 have one in 

 hand to compare) the scapulars have each two black spots. In the hybrid these spots are 

 fouiui in a few feathers only, and are half faded out. In mourning-dove young most of the 

 coverts in the upper half of the wing are marked in the same way, the spots becoming 

 larger and more conspicuous postei-iorly in the larger coverts. In the hybrid all these spots 

 are absent, or washed out so far as not to be recognizable, except on two of the upper 

 larger coverts, namely, the twelfth and thirteenth, counting upward on the wing. These 

 two feathers ha\e the s]:)ot on the outer web, none on inner, and they are smaller than 

 in the mourning-do\-e, being fully half washed out. Just behind these spots two tertials 

 (tenth and eleventh, counting iijjward from first secondary) are similarly marked. 



In the mourning-dove three tertials (tenth, eleventh, and twelfth) are thus marked, and 

 marked on both webs, with quite conspicuous black spots; the spots on the outer web are 

 the stronger (deeper) black; four of the upper larger coverts (eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, 

 and fourteenth) are marked, Init only one of tliese (the twelfth) lias a spot on the inner web. 



The tail of the mourning-ilove lias 14 feathers, the outermost one of these (on each 

 side) being white; and this feather, together with 3 others, have white tips. In these 4 

 feathers the extent of the white diminishes gradually until in the fourth most of the tip is 

 ashy blue partly whitened out at the very end. The fifth and sixth feathers are ashy blue 

 throughout (except the bar) . The seventh is brown, becoming blue at the base, and without 

 a bar. The outer feather is about four-sevenths as long as the two middle feathers. 



The hybrid has 12 tail feathers and thus agrees with the mother. The two middle ones 

 are brown, and taper a little at the end, but far less than in Zenaidura:- The outer web of 

 the outer feathers is not "white" but "light ashy blue." The bar, which is similar to that 

 of the mourning-dove, is on feathers 1 to 4, absent on 5 and 6. This outer feather is 80 mm. 

 long; the middle feather is 105 mm. The outer is thus about three-fourths as long as the 

 middle feather. On the under side the bar extends farther towards the base, and a trace of 

 it is seen on the middle feathers. The under tail-coverts are "white," and extend to the 

 outer edge of the bar. 



The feathers on the breast — those along the middle line from chin to abdomen — show 

 a vinous tinge similar to those of Zenaidura. Elsewhere they are pale brown, edged with 

 isabelline. The color grows lighter backward, whitening out towards the vent. The under 

 wing coverts are pale bluish gray. The eye is dark, but lighter than that of the mourning- 

 dove. The size of the hybrid is clearly between that of mourning- and ring-doves. (CC 16) 



■ "I have only an adult tail to compare; possibly the difference in the young is less." 



