364 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Columha leucocephala. 



Sp. Char. General color very dark slate-blue, primaries and tail darker. Upper half of the 

 head, from the bill to the nape, pure white, not reaching the edge of the eyelids ; a triangular 



patch of dark maroon-purj^le 

 on the occiput, and below it a 

 semicircular " cape " covering 

 the nape, of metallic brassy- 

 green, each feather distinctly 

 bo];dered externally with velvety- 

 black, producing a squamate ap- 

 pearance. Bill deep purple, the 

 end light blue ; iris white ; legs 

 deep lake-red. In skins the bill 

 dusky tipped with yellowish, the 

 feet yellow. Sexes similar. 

 Length, 13.50 ; wing, 7.00 ; tail, 

 5.80. 



Hab. Southern Keys of Florida 

 (including Indian Key) and West 

 Indies generally. Honduras 

 (MooRE, P. Z. S. 1859, 61); 

 Santa Cruz (Newton, Ibis, I, 

 253) ; Cuba (Cab. J. IV, 107) ; 

 Bahamas (Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. VII, 1859) ; Jamaica (G-osse, B. J. 299) ; Porto Rico 

 (Taylor, Ibis, 1864, 171) ; Cuba (Gundl. Repert. I, 1866, 298); Santa Bartholemy (Sund. 

 Ofv. 1869, 585). 



Habits. The White-headed Pigeon occurs in the more southern of the 

 keys of Florida, but, so far as I am aware, has never been taken on any jDart 

 of the mainland. It is an abundant species in Cuba, Jamaica, and in most 

 of the other West India Islands. 



This Dove, according to Audubon, arrives on the southern keys of Florida 

 about the 20th of April, sometimes not until the first of May. On the 30th 

 of April he shot several just after their arrival from across the Gulf Stream. 

 He noticed them as they approached the shore, skimming along the surface 

 of the water, and flying with great rapidity, in the manner of the House 

 Pigeon. As they approached the land they rose to about a hundred yards, 

 flying in circles as if to survey the country. To procure specimens, it was 

 necessary to force them out from the dark retreats in whicli they had 

 alighted. They were at all times exceedingly shy and wary, probably on 

 account of the war that is incessantly waged against them, their flesh being 

 very juicy and finely flavored. This shyness is only partially abated even 

 during the breeding-season, as they will silently slide from their nest when 

 sitting, if it is approached, and retreat to the dark shade of the mangroves, and 

 do not return for an interval to their charge. They were more abundant in 

 the more southern keys, except the sterile Tortugas. 



According to Mr. March, there are two varieties of this Pigeon, known as 

 the Baldpate in Jamaica, distinguished as the Mountain and the Mangrove 

 Baldpate. The latter he has never met with in the mountains, but both 



