424 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1911. 
young one in a transverse manner, or with the back of each mandible 
opposite the separations of the mandibles of the young bird, and 
disgorges the contents of its crop. As soon as the young birds are 
able‘ to shift for themselves, they leave their parents and continue 
separate until they attain maturity. By the end of six months they 
are capable of reproducing their species. 
The flesh of the wild pigeon is of a dark color, but affords tolerable 
eating. That of young birds from the nest is much esteemed. The 
skin is covered with small white, filmy scales. The feathers fall off at 
the least touch, as has been remarked to be the case in the Carolina 
turtle! I have only to add that this species, like others of the same 
genus, immerses its head up to the eyes while drinking. 
In March, 1830, I bought about 350 of these birds in the market of 
New York at 4 cents apiece. Most of these I carried alive to England, 
and distributed amongst several noblemen, presenting some at the 
same time to the zoological society. 
Adult male: Bill straight, of ordinary length, rather slender, 
broader than deep at the base, with a tumid fleshy covering above, 
compressed toward the end, rather obtuse; upper mandible slightly 
declinate at the tip; edges inflected. Head small, neck slender, body 
rather full. Legs short and strong; tarsus rather rounded, anteriorly 
scutellate; toes slightly webbed at the base; claws short, depressed, 
obtuse. 
Plumage blended on the neck and under parts, compact on the back. 
Wings long, the second quill longest. Tail graduated, of 12 tapering 
feathers. 
Bill black. Ivis bright red. Feet carmine purple, claws blackish. 
Head above and on the sides light blue. Throat, fore neck, breast, 
and sides ight brownish-red, the rest of the under parts white. Lower 
part of the neck behind, and along the sides, changing to gold, emerald 
green, and rich crimson. The general color of the upper parts is 
grayish blue, some of the wing coverts marked with a black spot. 
Quills and larger wing coverts blackish, the primary quills bluish on 
the outer web, the larger coverts whitish at the tip. The two middle 
feathers of ilie tail black, the rest pale blue at the base, becoming 
white toward the end. 
Length 16} inches; extent of wings 25; bill along the ridge 3; 
along the gap 13; tarsus 14; middle toe 14. 
The colors of the female are much duller than those of the male, 
although their distribution is the same. The breast is light grayish- 
brown, the upper parts pale reddish-brown, tinged with blue. The 
changeable spot on the neck is of less extent, and the eyeof a somewhat 
duller red, as are the feet. 
Length 15 inches; extent of wings 23; bill along the ridge }; 
along the gap &. 
1 Now called the mourning dove.—Ed. 
