t22 Scott on the Birds ofyamaica. [April 



Guinea-fowl is now generally regarded as much less abundant than 

 formerly, when large coveys were to be found in the lowlands and af- 

 forded good sport. Very recently, however, and on more than one 

 occasion, I have met with a covey of wild bii'ds near Kingston. At an 

 unfrequented part of the Long Mountain Road, where perhaps not more 

 than three or four persons pass in the course of a whole da}', I twice 

 saw a large party of these birds dusting." 



loo. Columba leucocephala Z,/»«. White-crowned Pigeon. — A com- 

 mon resident species in most parts of the island. At Boston it was 

 abundant and to be seen or heard at all times of the day. Here they were 

 associated together in pairs or in small flocks of from six to ten individuals. 

 About the 20th of January at Boston the birds were generally mated and 

 their constant cooing was to be heard at almost all points in the woods. 

 Males taken about this date have the iris almost white with the faintest 

 tinge of straw color. A female taken on February 9 had an &^% in the 

 oviduct about ready to be laid, and other females taken indicate that the 

 birds generally are breeding or about to breed at this point. 



The following are Mr. Taylor's notes : "Abundant and generally dis- 

 persed. Always to be found in the vicinity of water; the mangrove 

 forests and woods bordering the river banks near Passage Fort wei"e locali- 

 ties in which they were fairly abundant. Many nests of eggs were taken 

 from the mangrove trees near the shore. 



"Pigeon Island, a thickly wooded cay off the port of Old Harbor, takes 

 its name from the large number of Doves that frequent it and breed 

 there ; from all accounts the Baldpate is the most numerous species. Like 

 the other Doves they are very early breeders. More than one brood ap- 

 pears to be reared. Eggs may be taken as early as February." 



loi. Columba caribea Lt7it/. Ring-tailed Pigeon. — In the wild and 

 little settled portions of the parish of Portland, in the vicinitj' of Boston, 

 these birds were common, but not so plentiful as C. Icucocephala. Three 

 females and a male secured at this point on January 16 were all apparently 

 adult, but showed no signs of breeding as yet. The iris in these individuals 

 varied from reddish orange to a deep, intense vermilion. Four birds 

 taken at the same point on January 17 had just completed the moult, and 

 three individuals taken later on the same day were still moulting, though 

 the change was nearly completed. These birds do not appear to breed 

 quite as early as the other Doves and Pigeons of the region. A pair 

 taken February 21 at Boston were apparently mated and the female looked 

 as if she would lay the first eggs in about two weeks. A pair taken on Feb- 

 ruary 23 were about ready to breed. These birds frequent the hills back 

 some little way and were most common at an altitude of about one to 

 two thousand feet above the sea level. Here they feed on wild fruits and 

 berries and become early in the year very fat, and are esteemed a great 

 delicacy for the table. They were so common in the region spoken of 

 that I frequently used them as food while at Boston. Mr. Taylor says 

 that he has ne\'cr had the opportunity of studying these birds in life. 



102? Columba inornata Visr- Blue Pigeon. — I did not meet with this 



