FAMILY COLUMBIDAE 43 



Females (8 specimens) 131.0-142.2 (137.3), tail 80.6-89.2 (84.1), 

 culmen 14.8-17.7 (16.8, average of 6), tarsus 31.5-33.2 (32.1) mm. 



Resident. Common in the forests of Isla Coiba. 



This species was one of the common forest birds on Isla Coiba dur- 

 ing my work there in 1956, so abundant that in spite of their secretive 

 habits I saw them nearly every day. Their range extended from the 

 woodland swamps back of the mangroves, where the rivers came down 

 to the sea, to the high forests that covered the hills of the interior of 

 the island. They live and feed on the ground, usually two or three in 

 company. When flushed, if startled they dart swiftly to cover where 

 they are secure, but more often fly a few feet to a low perch on a log, 

 or on a branch in the undergrowth. On the ground they walk with 

 bobbing heads. If I were near often they stood motionless, when it 

 was difficult to see them in the dim light of their heavily shaded 

 haunts. In early morning I noted them on open trails, but at any slight 

 alarm they flew immediately into their usual cover. 



In January and early February some of the males were calling, a 

 single hooting note, so highly ventriloquial that we never succeeded 

 in actually seeing the bird as it performed, though we were certain of 

 the source. The birds when calling appeared to rest on low perches 

 where they were completely concealed. In spite of every care in stalk- 

 ing, when we came too near they became silent, and either flew or 

 dropped to the ground and walked away. Invariably it seemed that the 

 sound came from the trees above, though we knew that the bird was 

 in the undergrowth near at hand. 



They were esteemed highly for the table, and many were trapped 

 by the convicts and sold alive, usually at a price of 60 cents a dozen. 



This is one of the most handsomely marked species of its genus. 



LEPTOTILA BATTYI MALAE Griscom 



Leptotila plumbeiceps malae Griscom, Amer. Mus. Nov., no. 280, September 10, 

 1927, p. 4. (Cerro Montuosa, 750 meters elevation, Herrera, Panama.) 



Characters. — Very slightly deeper brown, less chestnut above; 

 crown slightly lighter gray, with the forehead paler; foreneck and 

 breast faintly paler. 



A male taken on Isla Cebaco on January 14, 1965, had the iris 

 yellow ; bare loral area dull red ; edge of eyelid dull black ; bill and cere 

 dull black ; crus, tarsus, and toes somewhat dull pinkish red. 



Measurements. — Males (4 specimens), wing 135.9-144.9 (139.2), 

 tail 82.4-86.0 (83.5), culmen 15.3-17.8 (16.4), tarsus 31.2-32.9 (32.4) 



