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. 1 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 a piece. 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 

 decimate 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. Iris bright red. Feet carmine purple, claws blackish. 

 Head above and on the sides light blue. Throat, fore neck, breast, 

 and sides light 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 the tail black, the rest pale blue at the base, becoming 

 white toward the end. 



Length 16 J inches; extent of wings 25; bill along the ridge f; 

 along the gap l^; tarsus 1|; middle toe 1J. 



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 eye of a somewhat 

 duller red, as are the feet. 



Length 15 inches; extent of wings 23; bill along the ridge f; 

 along the gap f. 



1 Now called the mourning dove.— Ed. 



