380 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



October, when they all returned to the West India Islands, whence they 

 came, and where they are most numerous. Tlie males were observed to reach 

 the keys in which they passed the summer to breed before the females, and 

 were heard cooing, as if in search of their mates, at least a week before the 

 arrival of the latter. They begin to lay their eggs about the first of May. 

 When they leave, in their autumnal migrations, they depart in small groups 

 by families. 



These birds are said by Mr. Audubon to be Ground Doves in habit. 

 Their flight resembles that of the so-called Ground Dove, and is seldom 

 higher than the tops of the mangroves, and never to any considerable dis- 

 tance except during their migrations. Though they alight on trees with 

 ease, and can walk well among their branches, they spend the greater portion 

 of their time on the ground, and walk well there, walking or running in 

 search of food with lightness and celerity, and invariably roost on the ground. 



Their flight is similar to that of the Carolina Dove in the firm movements- 

 of the wings, though they do not produce the same whistling sounds. In 

 flying over the water they keep near its surface ; arid when started from the 

 ground they only fly to a short distance, and realight in the grass or a thicket. 

 They are extremely gentle, so much so that Mr. Audubon has occasionally 

 approached so near as to almost touch them with his gun as they stood gaz- 

 ing at him, apparently devoid of all fear. 



They breed in the few keys that are covered with grass and low- shrubs. 

 They always place their nest on the ground, often with so little conceaUnent 

 that it may be easily discovered by any one searching for it. Occasionally 

 it is placed between tufts of grass, the tops of which bend over and conceal 

 it. A small hole is scooped in the sand in which a slight nest, composed of 

 matted blades of dry grasses, is placed, circular in form, and embedded in an 

 outer collection of dry leaves and twigs. The whole fabric is said to be- 

 more compact than the nest of any other Pigeon. The eggs, always two, 

 are described as pure white and translucent. 



When sitting on her eggs or on her young, the female rarely moved from 

 them except when an attempt was made to catch her, which she always 

 evaded with great dexterity, gliding with great quickness to a short distance,. 

 and watching the movements of the intruder with drooping wings and an 

 air of deep sorrow, her whole frame trembling as if with intense cold. 



Mr. Audubon took alive two of the young birds, which he fed from his 

 mouth with Indian-corn meal. This they ate with avidity, until placed 

 under the care of a common tame Pigeon, that at once fostered them. They 

 lived, and were taken to Dr. Bachman in Charleston. 



Their notes are said to closely resemble the cooing of the Carolina Dove, 

 but are somewhat more soft and tender. During midday, when the heat in 

 the central parts of the keys is intense, these birds are silent. 



Their flesh was found to be excellent, and they were generally very fat. 

 They fed on grass seeds, on the leaves of certain aromatic plants, and on 



