42 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



LEPTOTILA BATTYI (Rothschild): Brown-backed Dove; 

 Paloma Cabeciceniza Castaiia 



Differs from L. p. notius in brighter brown back, more pinkish 

 breast, and brownish gray cheeks. 



Description. — Length 235-255 mm. Adult male, forehead grayish 

 white, changing to gray on forecrown, with rest of crown and hind- 

 neck dark slate-gray; rest of upper surface, including wing coverts, 

 inner secondaries and the upper side of the central tail feathers chest- 

 nut-brown; outer secondaries, primaries, and alula fuscous-black; 

 throat white ; cheeks brownish gray ; sides of neck light slate-gray ; 

 foreneck, breast, and sides light vinaceous; abdomen and under tail 

 coverts white ; flanks mouse brown ; under wing coverts, and inner 

 webs of primaries and secondaries rufous ; under surface of tail black, 

 with outer feathers tipped with white. 



Female, somewhat duller colored on back and breast. 



Immature, a specimen of L. b. battyi in the American Museum of 

 Natural History, taken May 11, 1901, has a few feathers of the juve- 

 nile plumage remaining on the forehead, crown, neck, and upper 

 breast, which are wood brown edged with cinnamon; greater wing 

 coverts with an indistinct subterminal bar of dark neutral gray and 

 a narrow tip of cinnamon. 



Leptotila battyi is so similar in general appearance to Leptotila 

 plumbeiceps that its two forms have been listed as geographic races 

 of that species. On close comparison battyi is seen to be brighter in 

 color, and in life it is found that the call notes of the male are distinctly 

 different. It is obvious, from the latter fact especially, that they are 

 different specific entities. 



Two geographic races are recognized, both found in Panama. 



LEPTOTILA BATTYI BATTYI (Rothschild) 



Leptoptila battyi Rothschild, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 12, December 30, 1901, 

 p. 33. (Isla Coiba, Panama.) 



Characters. — Crown darker gray with forehead only slightly paler, 

 back somewhat more chestnut-brown ; foreneck and breast more vina- 

 ceous ; flanks grayer brown. 



A female taken January 17, 1956, had the iris dull yellow ; bare loral 

 area dull red ; rest of bare skin on side of head dull neutral gray ; bill 

 black ; tarsus and toes dull red ; claws wood brown. 



Measurements. — Males (6 specimens), wing 134.5-143.5 (137.8), 

 tail 81.0-83.8 (81.8), culmen 14.0-16.9 (15.6), tarsus 31.2-34.0 (32.7) 

 mm. 



