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WlllTIvlIEADEl) I'KiKON. 251 



TIk' Wliik'-lioiuk'd i'iguoufi art' tliDruuglilv at home aiuouir the thirk bnuifhcs of 

 tlie trees and shriihl)erv of tlie Bahamas, moving about among them as easily as do tho 

 smallerperching birds, and tliex make \ery little noise. When sui])rised hv an intrude!' 

 they will remain perfectly (juiet until ajjproaehed within a few yaids. wlu-u tliev will 

 spring rapidly into air, rise to the tips of the woodland, and diirt olf with an i^xeeeihuiiiv 

 ra])id tlight, in fict, few, if any birds, can Hy any more ([uicklx than do these Pigeons. 

 J have shot several in air, as they rose from the bushes and darted awav, hut T never 

 attempted to shoot one as it passed me at full s])eed at right angles. When dashin< 

 along at this hendlong speed the\- will suddenly alight njton a liran<'h or on the around, 

 withont the beating or fluttering of the wings which usualh attends a similar abrupt 

 stoppage in most birds of a similar size, and which is so noticeable in our domestic })igeon. 



Notes on the Zeniada Dove. This duve possesses one uf the most singular souiid-profhicin"- 

 apparatus that I have ever seen. 



The trachea is straight, some ooO long, is cylindrical on its ujiper portion, but is slightly flattened as it 

 approaches the inferior laryn.x. The most marked peculiarity in the trachea is a hollow, which beginning 

 by a slight depression, increases in width and depth gradually, until it approaches the larynx, when it 

 becomes gradually smaller. The walls of this depre3si'.)n are very thin and may possibly serve as a vil)rating 

 membrane. See fig. 47, A, a, where is given a life-sized figure of the upper side of the trachea, showing this 

 peculiarity. 



The sterno trachealis arises about .'-M) above the laryn.x and is quite well developed. Besides this on 

 either side arises a thin narrow strip, evidently the remains of a l)roncho trachealis. These muscles extend 

 over about eight rings of.the trachea and then extend over the inferior larynx near the lower side. 



In the lower larynx is anearly circularorifice, about .12 in diameter across which stretches a thm, nearlv 

 transparent membrane, to the side of which the broncho trachealis is attached. See ib., B, M, being the 

 membrane. At C. 1 have given an enlarged view of the membrane, lettered as at B. 



The bronchial tubes are ratlier thin, with nine half rings, and with a normally developed tympaniform 

 membrane. 



This dove, as might be expected from such a musical apparatus, has a singular note. The male perches 

 upon a limb of a tree, swells out his throat, and utters his cuoing song, which lie repeats at rather regidar 

 but protracted, intervals. 



This song begins with two n^tes, the first uttered with a falling inflection, the seconrl with a rising. The 

 second follows the first rather quickly, and is not as prolonged. Both are in a low key. Then follows three 

 other notes, sounding like '■ Who, who, who;" but there is a decided pause between the first two ; the last 

 three are given in the same time and in the same key. The notes are all loud, but when softened by distance 

 have a singularly mournful eSt^ct. 



On the islands of Cayman Brae and Little Cayman I encountered a dove which closely resembles the 

 Zeniada and which coos in much the same manner, but which differs somewhat in the laryngeal structure. 



The hollow is present in the trachea above, much as in Z, amabilis, but the trachea is a little wider. 

 See, fig. 47, D, where I give a slightly eidarged view of this side of the trachea, the lettering being the same 

 ,as in Z. amabalis in all the figures. 



The sterno trachealis has a peculiar origin, as both branches of it emerge from one point close together 

 on the lower side of tlie trachea. See ib D. s. The broncho trachealis is slightly enlarged at the end near 

 the membrane in the lower larynx and this membrane is rather more oval in f inu than in the allied species. 

 See ib. D and E, m. There are eight half rings to the bronchial tubes, and the tympaniform membrane 

 extends its entire length. In spite of this variation in the form of the sound producing organs I could not 

 perceive any diflerence in tlie notes uttered by this species and those given liy Z. amabalis. The Cayman 

 Doves were exceedingly tame and I have frequently watched them feeding within a yard of mj feet. 



