﻿324 Mr. E. Hartert on the Birds of 



shy birds, but can be shot in great numbers in very dry 

 weather near the water. The Europeans and natives on the 

 islands much appreciate its flesh as food, and it does well in 

 captivity. 



24. Zenaida vinaceo-rufa, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. N. M. vii. 

 p. 176; Berl. J. f. O. 1892, p. 95. 



Extremely common on Aruba, also common on Curacao, 

 but most numerous on Bonaire. Peters (J. f. O. 1892, 

 p. 113) mentions this species under three names — No. 13. 

 "Ala duro," No. 14. "Blauw Duiff," and No. 15. " Patruchi." 

 All three names apply to Zenaida vinaceo-rufa. "Ala duro " 

 is the most familiar name for the adult bird ; " Patruchi" 

 a name that is by some of the islanders erroneously applied 

 to Eupsychortyw gouldi, is less in use ; and " Blauw Duiff" is 

 the Dutch name, mostly given to the young bird, which 

 many natives believe to be a distinct species. Columba 

 portoricensis is sometimes called by the last name on 

 Bonaire. 



The young bird is more rusty above and beneath than the 

 adult, most of the feathers have white edges and white 

 lanceolate spots at the tips. The females are much darker 

 in colour. 



Wing of adult 5 2 to 5*5 inches. I found the nest — a flat 

 and loose structure, like all Pigeons' nests — about 10 feet 

 high in a dividivi-tree. The two eggs are ovate in shape 

 (cf. Ridgw. Nomencl. Col. pi. xvi. fig. 1), and in colour plain 

 white, with a faint gloss. The weights are 460 and 455 

 milligramms, and they measure 1*23 x 0'86 and l'lx 0*84 in. 



25. Leptoptila verreauxi (Bp.). 



My honoured friend Count Tommaso Salvadori has kindly 

 examined some of my skins of this bird, and refers them to 

 L. verreauxi. The species is rather rare on Curacao. 



Wing 5*4 inches. Iris pale orange or yellowish brown, 

 bill black, feet red. 



I believe this to be Peters's No. 11 (J. f. O. p. 113), for 

 the islanders call it " Tortel Duiff" and there is no such thing 

 as Columba plumbea on Curacao. 

 [36] 



