246 GEOTRYGON MARTINICA. 



HABITS. 

 On my trip south during the winter of 1876-77, I did not find the Ground Doves at 

 all until I arrived in South Carolina, and here they were quite common on the cotton plan- 

 tations of the Sea Islands. This point is about their northern range, for they are not mi- 

 gratory but are abundant below this section as far as Key West. In habit, these little 

 Doves resemble Qaail for they spend the greater portion of their time upon the ground,, 

 and usually associate in small flocks, feeding upon the seeds of weeds and grass. If start- 

 led at such times, they rise with a whistling noise of the wings and conceal themselves 

 in the nearest thicket from which it is difticult to dislodge them; then, when forced to leave 

 this place of refuge, they will instantly dart into the first available patch of shrubbery. 

 They appear to be genei-al favorites with all classes and even the negroes seldom shoot the 

 Mourning Doves, as they call them; consequently the birds become quite tame, often fre- 

 quenting (he streets and gardens of the towns. 



Tlicy breed rather late and 1 did not find the eggs until the first week in May in Flor- 

 ida. I have always found the nests in orange groves which appear to be the chosen resorts 

 of these pretty, little Doves. The neat domiciles are placed in the lower limbs of trees, 

 and when approached, the female will quickly slip off her eggs and feign lameness, behav- 

 ing just as I have seen the Bay-winged Bunting or other Span'ows do under similar circum- 

 stances. The male will also fly round and round the place, becoming quite excited but 

 never approaching very near; both birds, however, evince much more solicitude fur their 

 eggs than is usually manifested by Pigeons. 



■ Like all members of the order, the Ground Doves are very tenacious of life, and as the 

 feathers become loosened very easily, it is diificult to secure perfect specimens, especially 

 as the birds often lose a large portion of their plumage in struggling if not killed outright. 

 The collector is, therefore, obliged to exercise great care when handling a wounded bird or 

 he will find himself surrounded by a small cloud of feathers which come from the bird when 

 it is held too tightly. 



The coo of the Ground Doves is particularly mournful and is given by the males when 

 courting the females, which they do by strutting before them, bowing the head, and pufiing 

 out their feathers. These Doves occur much more abundantly on the sea-shore than in 

 the interior but they are also found some distance from the coast. 



GENUS IV. (!EOTKY(JON. THE GROUND DOVES. 



Gen. Cii. Bill, weah, lony, and slender. Tail, rather short and well rounded. Wings, not pointed. Tarsus, quite 

 short and stout. 



Meml)ers of this genus are of medium size and of rather dull colors but often have prominent white markings on the 

 head. There is but one species within our limit.s. 



GEOTRYGON MARTINICA. 

 Key West Dove. 



Gcotryyon martinica Bon., Consp. Av. II; 1^)4, 74. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Fonii , rather slender . .Size, medium. Tail, short and slightly graduated, while the feathers are broad, u» 

 are also those oi the winjrs. 



