COLUMBID^E — THE PIGEONS. 391 



to fly low, and only for short distances, and to spend most of their time on 

 the ground. 



In Jamaica, according to Mr. March, the Ground Dove sometimes perches, 

 and always roosts, on low trees ; but is otherwise generally found in pairs, 

 feeding on the ground on small grain and seeds. Several pairs may be seen 

 feeding together, but they do not associate. It is said to be very tame, and 

 to be found about homesteads and in streets and roads. It also breeds in 

 low trees, the cashew and the dogwood seeming to be preferred. It is very 

 rarely kept as a cage-bird, as its note is a plaintive mournful coo, and there 

 is a Creole superstition that misfortune will happen to any one so treating 

 it. The nest is slightl}^ made of twigs, lined with grass, and built in a 

 fork or hollow. The eggs are two, of a rounded oval, white, .87 of an inch 

 by .69. 



According to Mr. Salvin, this Dove is one of the most familiar birds of 

 the central region of Guatemala, where it is the only small Ground Dove 

 found. In the coast region its place was supplied by at least two other 

 species. It is abundant at Duefias, residing all the year, and breeding in the 

 cochineal plantations, where it deposits its eggs, two in number, on the ground 

 under the rows of " nopal." It is called Tortolita by the inhabitants. He 

 Ibund its nests both on the ground and elevated a few feet above it. 



Mr. Dresser found these birds common near Matamoras, and generally 

 noticed them on the road between Matamoras and Brownsville, as well as on 

 a sand-plain close to Fort Brown, on the Texan side of the river. In the 

 interior of Texas he did not meet with any, except once, in April, on the 

 Medina near San Antonio. 



Mr. Audubon describes the flight of this Dove as low, easy, and accom- 

 panied by a whistling sound, produced by the action of the wings when 

 the bird is surprised and forced to fly. It is less protracted than that of 

 most other species, and seldom extends more than a hundred yards at a time. 

 It seems much attached to its chosen locality, and almost immediately re- 

 turns to it after having been driven away. While it alights on trees and 

 moves with ease among the branches, and mostly nests in low trees or 

 bushes, the ground is its usual place of resort, where it runs with facility, and 

 in moving always keeps its tail considerably elevated. It appeared to be fond 

 of alighting on fences, where it can be heard cooing for half an hour at a 

 time. 



These Pigeons are mot with in groups of four or five, and seldom more than 

 ten or twelve are seen together. They appear to prefer the thinly grassed 

 sandy portions of cotton-fields, pea-patches, and similar places. In East 

 Florida they may even be seen in the villages, resorting to the orange-groves 

 and breeding in them. At St. Augustine they are often found within the inner 

 court of the old Spanish fort, rising almost perpendicularly in order to escape 

 above the parapets. They are easily caught, and readily become domesticated. 

 A pair taken when their young were quite small, and placed in an aviary, con- 



