COLUMBID^ — THE PIGEONS. 365 



kinds resort at all times to the lowlands and mangrove-swamps along the 

 coasts, and to the neighboring islands and keys (Pigeon Island and the two 

 Goat Islands in particular), where they breed in numbers, making their nests in 

 trees, some at high elevations, others so low as to be within reach of a person 

 standing, according to the convenience of the site. Large numbers of squabs 

 are often taken from these places and brought into the towns for sale. They 

 feed in company in the morning and afternoon, and as they often feed at a 

 distance from their roosting-places, large flocks are sometimes seen in the 

 early morning and evening passing and repassing overhead, sometimes in 

 high, at other times in low flight, going to and returning from the feeding- 

 ground or convenient watering-place. TJieir food is grain, fruit, and berries, 

 nuts and seeds ; and they commit serious depredations on the Guinea-corn 

 fields, not only by the quantity they devour, but by breaking down the 

 brittle cornstalks with the weight of their bodies. They are easily kej)t 

 in confinement, and often breed and become quiet and contented, but take 

 the earliest opportunity of emancipation. The nest is a platform of sticks 

 and twigs loosely put together, and bedded with softer materials, with a 

 slight hollow in the centre. The eggs are two, glarish- white in color, vary- 

 ing in form and dimensions, but usually long oval, measuring 1.63 inches in 

 length by 1.13 in breadth. 



According to Mr. Leyland (Ibis, I, p. 222) this Pigeon inhabits the keys or 

 small islands on the coast of Honduras. 



It was found at St. Croix by Professor Alfred ISTewton, frequenting the liills 

 in the north of the island, and occasionally in the brush-land on the south 

 side. It was not very common, and was said to be a visitor from Porto Pdco ; 

 but it undoubtedly breeds on the island of St. Croix, as Professor Newton 

 obtained a young bird, shot July 28, which could not have left the nest 

 many days. A caged specimen of this bird, tliat had been in the possession 

 of Dr. Carden of St. Croix several years, was given to Professor Newton by 

 that gentleman, and presented to the Zoological Society of London. 



Mr. Audubon found the nests placed high or low according to circum- 

 stances, but never saw two on the same tree. He has met with them on 

 the top of a cactus, only a few feet from the ground, or on a low branch of 

 a mangrove almost touching the water. They are said to resemble that of 

 the common Passenger Pigeon, but are more compact and better lined ; the 

 outer part being composed of small dry twigs, the inner of fibrous roots and 

 grasses. The eggs are two, of an opaque white, roundish, and as large as 

 those of the common Pigeon. Mr. Audubon thinks that these birds may 

 have several broods in a season. None M^ere known by him to visit the 

 mainland of Florida. 



In captivity these birds may be easily managed, and breed readily, as Mr. 

 Audubon witnessed in the aviaries of Dr. Wilson and Eev. Dr. Bachman of 

 Charleston, S. C. 



In confinement they are said never to lay more than a single egg. The 



