COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS. 



377 



y^ 



Melopelia leucoptera. 



City of Mexico (Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, 178) ; Southeastern Texas, breeding (Dresser, Ibis, 

 1866, 24) ; Cuba (Gundl. Rep. I, 1866, 301); Fort Whipple, Arizona (Coues, P. A. N. S. 

 1866, 93) ; Costa Rica (Lawr. IX, 139) ; Yucatan (Lawr. IX, 207). 



However remarkable and exceptional the distribution of this species may 

 appear in occurring in Cuba and Jamaica and in Mexico, from the Atlantic 

 coast to Cape St. Lucas, and north 



to Santa F^, New Mexico, we __=.-//=—-— >----?_ 



have yet been unable to find any 

 tangible differences in specimens 

 from these extreme localities. 

 The Jamaica bird has rather a 

 more decided wash of brown on 

 the neck and forehead, the toes 

 apparently shorter ; but as speci- 

 mens from the same locality vary 

 in this respect, it is probable that 

 in a large series such differences 

 will disappear in the average. 



Habits. Tliis species is found on the Lower Rio Grande, in Arizona, and, 

 according to Dr. Cooper, in California. It also occurs in Mexico, and was 

 taken in Tamaulipas by Lieutenant Couch, March, 1858. It has also been 

 met with in several of the West India Islands and in Central America. 



This species is abundant in Jamaica, where, according to Mr. March, it is 

 more a lowland than a mountain Dove. They are said to be gregarious, 

 usually keeping in flocks of from ten to twenty, but in January and in Feb- 

 ruary, in the Guinea-corn season, and at other times when the Cerei are in 

 fruit, they congregate in large flocks, often of several hundreds. Their food 

 is principally grain and seeds, but they are equally fond of the ripe fruit of 

 the different species of Cercus abounding on the savannas and salines dur- 

 ing the summer. Inland, the White-wings, in the same manner as the 

 Baldpate, breed in solitary pairs ; but in the mangrove swamps, and in the 

 islands along the coast, they breed in company, many in the same tree. The 

 nest is a frail platform of sticks, with a slight hollow lined with leaves and 

 bark, and sometimes a few feathers. The eggs are two, of an oblong-oval shape, 

 glarish-white in color, measuring 1.31 inches in length by .94 of an inch in 

 breadth. Mr. March adds that the White-wing is often kept in confinement, 

 where it occasionally breeds. It is at first quite wild, fluttering in alarm at 

 the approach of any person, but afterwards becomes quite docile if attended 

 with care. It has been known to cross and mate with the Turtiir riso7'ius, a 

 bird which has been introduced into Jamaica. Mr. March had, at the time 

 his paper appeared, a male White-wing mated with a female Eingdove. 



This species was found at Omoa, Honduras, by Mr. Leyland, and by Mr. 

 Salvin about Duenas, Guatemala, where it was one of the common Doves. 

 It was found on the ground, in the open savannas. 

 vol. in. 48 



