I 38 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



Dr. Bryant, who found it breeding, says, " It breeds in commu- 

 nities in some places, as at Grassy Key, Andros Island, in vast 

 numbers. Here the nests were made on the tops of the prickly 

 pear, which covers the whole key ; at the Biminis and Buena Vista 

 Key, Ragged Islands, on the mangrove, and at Long Rock, near 

 Exuma, on stunted bushes. I do not think they ever select a large 

 key for their breeding-place. The eggs are laid by the middle of 

 May, and the young leave their nests about the ist of July, previous 

 to which great numbers are killed by the negroes. It is a shy bird, 

 when not breeding, even in the most uninhabited localities." 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. IV. pi. 2S0. 



ZEiYAIDA AMAEILIS. {D/>.) 

 Zenaida Dove. 



Local Name. — Wood Dove. 



AdnJi Male. — Above, olive-brown ; top of the head and under 

 parts, pale purplish brown ; sides of the body and under wing- 

 coverts, blue ; tail-feathers, with the exception of the central ones, 

 bluish, with a black band about an inch from the tip; slight streak 

 of metallic blue below the ear; cjuills, dark brown; secondaries 

 tipped with white ; feet, reddish. 



Length 10.50, wing 6, tail 4, tarsus i, bill .55. 



