512 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



Count Salvadori's account is thus quite inadequate and disappointing. 

 Precisely the opposite course, however, has been followed by Dr. 

 Percy R. Lowe, who has reviewed the C. passerina group within 

 recent years. In this paper all the various forms are treated as full 

 species, and the rules of nomenclature have been disregarded freely. 

 Nevertheless Dr. Lowe's paper is an exceedingly timely and important 

 contribution to the subject, and has been extensively used in the 

 preparation of the present review. 



Habits.— As implied by their name, the Ground Doves are birds of 

 the open country, and spend much of their time on the ground. 

 They are usually seen in pairs, but after the breeding season may 

 gather into small flocks. As a rule they are not shy, and in some 

 regions are actually most abundant in the neighborhood of human 

 habitations, and in cultivated districts generally. In some sections 

 they are shot for food, but as a rule their small size has operated to 

 their advantage. In all the species (except C. buckleyi, whose nidi- 

 fication is not yet known) the nest is a frail affair of twigs and weed- 

 stalks, placed in a low bush or on the ground, and the eggs are two 

 in number, pure white. 



Relationships. — The present genus would seem to find its proper 

 position in the small group of neotropical genera called by Count 

 Salvadori Peristerinae, which name, however, requires to be changed 

 to Claraviinae, to correspond with the proper name of its principal 

 genus. As characterized by this and most later authors the genus 

 includes six species, but one of these is clearly not congeneric with the 

 others, and before attempting to formulate any intelligible diagnosis 

 of Chcemepelia it becomes necessary to remove it therefrom under the 

 name 



Eupelia genus novum. 



Similar to Chcemepelia Swainson, but bill relatively much longer 

 and stouter, with base more turgid, and nostrils wider, more open; 

 feet also somewhat stouter; inner web of seventh primary entire; and 

 lesser coverts with a metallic band. Similar in style of coloration to 

 Columbina Spix (Columbula of authors), but bill and feet stouter, 

 and tail relatively shorter and not double rounded. Type, Columba 

 cruziana Prevost and Knip, which will thus stand as Eupelia 

 cruziana. 



The genera of this group may now be re-arranged, as follows: 



