376 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus MELOFELIA, Bonap. 



Melopelia, Bonap. Consp. II, Dec. 1854, 81. (Type, Columba leucoptera, L.) 



Gen. Char. Similar to Zenaida ; the orbital region and lore more naked ; the bill 

 longer ; the middle toe longer ; the hinder shorter. Tarsal scutellje in a single series 

 anteriorly. First quill nearly as long as the second and third. A large white patch on 

 wing-coverts, lower parts light ashy. 



This genus, like nearly all the North American ones, is represented by 

 but a single species in the United States. 



Melopelia leucoptera, (Linn.) Bonap. 



WHITE-WINGED DOVE. 



Columba leucoptera, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 164 (Jamaica). — Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 

 773. _Wagl. Syst. Av. 1827, Columba, No. 71. — McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. IV, 

 1848, 64. Zenaida leucoptera. Gray, Gen. B. Turtur hucopterus, GossE, B. Jam. 

 1847, 304. Melopelia leucoptera, Bonap. Consp. Av. II, 1854, 81. — Baikd, Birds N. 

 Am. 1858, 603. — Reichenb. Handb. Taub. 22, tab. 254, f. 1417-; 255, f. 2869.— 

 Maech, p. a. N. S. 1863, 302. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 515. ? Columba hoilotl, 

 Gm. S. N. I, 1788, 777. Columba trudeaui, Aud. Birds Am. VII, 1843, 352, pi. 

 ccccxcvi. 



Sp. Char. General color fine ashy, with an olivaceous cast on upper surface, the middle 

 tail-feathers being decidedly brownish ; secondaries and primaries blackish. Beneath paler 



ashy, Avith a light drab cast anteriorly 

 (lightest on the throat), the abdomen 

 and sides with a fine light-bluish cast; 

 anal region white, crissum more 

 bluish. Occiput with a purplish 

 tinge. A spot of black, with steel- 

 blue reflection below the ears ; a 

 large patch of white on the wing, 

 covering the lower coverts from the 

 elbow to the secondaries ; secondaries 

 margined terminally with white. 

 Terminal fourth of tail-feathers, 

 except the two medial, ashy-white, 

 preceded by a subterminal blackish 

 band. Male with faint purplish- 

 golden reflections on the sides of 

 the neck, and the throat and jugu- 

 lum inclining to ochrey-vinaceous ; 

 the occiput and nape decided purplish. Female with this scarcely apparent. Male: 

 wing, 6.80; tail, 5.10; culmen, .84; tarsus, LOG; middle toe, 1.10. Female slightly 

 smaller. 



Hab. Southern border of United States, from Texas to Arizona and Lower California ; 

 Mexico, south to Costa Rica, Cuba and Jamaica, Oaxaca, highlands (Scl. 1858, 305) ; 

 Cordova (1856, 309) ; Jamaica (Gosse, B. J. 304) ; Honduras (Taylor, Ibis, II, 227) ; 



Melopelia leucoptera, Bonap. 



