600 U. § P. R. BR. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT, 
The Lctopistes migratoria is blue above, purplish red beneath, passing into whitish behind. 
The wing above is spotted with bluish black ; the sides of the neck with metallic gloss. 
ECTOPISTES MIGRATORIA, Swainson. 
Wild Pigeon; Passenger Pigeon. 
Columba migratoria, Liynanus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 285.—Gm. I, 389.—Forsrer, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 398.— 
Wirson, Am. Orn. J, 1808, 102-3 pl. xliv—Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 179.—Wacuer, Syst. 
Av. 1827, No. 91.—Avp. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 319: V, 561 ; pl. 62. 
“Eclopistes migratoria, Swanson, Zool. Jour. UI, 1827, 355.—Is. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 363.—Bon. List, 1838.—IB. 
Consp. Av. IT, 1854, 59.—Aup. Syn. 1839, 194.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 25; pl. 285.— 
‘“«Reicu. Icones Av. tab. 249, figs. 1377, 1379.” 
Columba canadensis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 284.—Gm. I, 1788, 785. Female or young. (Prior name?) 
Columba americana, ‘* Kau, It. Il, 527.7? 
Passenger Pigeon, Pennant, I, 322.—Larr. Syn. II, u, 661. 
Sp. Cx.—Tail with twelve feathers. Upper parts generally, including sides of body, head, and neck, and the chin, blue. 
Beneath, purple brownish red, fading behind with a violet tint. Anal region and under tail coverts, bluish white. Scapulars, 
inner tertials, and middle of back, with an olive brown tinge; the wing coverts, scapulars, and inner tertials, with large oval 
spots of blue-black on the outer webs, mostly concealed, except on the latter. Primaries blackish, with a border of pale bluish 
tinged internally with red. Middle tail feathers brown; the rest pale blue on the outer web, white internally ; each with a patch 
of reddish brown at the base of the inner web, followed by another of black. Sides and back of neck richly glossed with metallic 
golden violet. Tibia bluish violet. Bill black. Feet yellow. 
The female is smaller; much duller in color; more olivaceous above ; beneath, pale blue instead of red, excep!.a tinge on 
the neck ; the jugulum tinged with olive, the throat whitish. 
Length of male, 17 inches; wing, 8.50 ; tail, 8.40. 
Hab.—North America to High Central Plains. 
The blue of the side of the head extends to the throat and chin. The upper part of the back 
and lesser coverts are of a darker blue than the head and rump. The inner primaries are more 
broadly margined with light blue, which tapers off to the end. The axillars and under surface 
of the wing are light blue. The longest scapulars have the black on both webs. There is no 
blue on the outer web of the first tail feather, which is white, and the inferior surface of the 
tail generally is white. 
In some specimens the entire head all round is blue. 
The immature male varies in having most of the feathers of the head and body margined 
with whitish. 
List of specimens. 
Catal | Sex. Locality. When collected.| Whence obtained.} Collected by— | Length. | Stretch | Wing. 
No. | of wings 
| = 
1182 é Carlisie: Pasecnec= sean = Sept. 25, 1845 PEISbeT ENGI Eo ge Leap ck] Popes se re ere ee 17. 00 24.00 | 8.50 
Weplhey GY EARS se (OSS eee emacs eet April ad; 1844 |osc 3 LO Rae erates eae ae ae 16.00 | 23.50 8. 00 
UGOSM Wa sezeee GOs aoe e oe June 8, 1846 | sae Chip eS. bee Se Bae sae 145/87) | 23475 |) sSel6 
TOG Sse Philadelphia, Pas=—-s—-—|>s-——e— === seo Bie Acad sNgt SC: |S-cce——---- eee ae Se aoe | Seen es 
A547 fof Washington, D.C_--.---- April —, 1856 | Market...-.....}.---~----------- 17. 00 24, 00),\/---= == 
4857 | oO Mouth of Big Sioux.----- May 3, 1856 | Lieut. Warren .-| Dr. Hayden----- 17. 16 | 23.75 8.50 
Sire | Sept eee oma epee: Falher oe s.2 2 |Eteme dose Se doteasecat 16.87 | 23.75 | 8.25 
5418 é Above mouth Yeliowstune.| Aug. 8, 1856 |_-.--- Osa eeee= pee dos s2s=23- 16.25 | 23.50 8.00 
| 
1 Jris red. 
