RASORES : COLUMBID^E. 



The Genus Melopelia, represented by the White-winged 

 Dove, M. leiicoptera, Bonap., of the Rio Grande and the 

 West Indies, has the tail short, rounded, and the orbits 

 naked. 



The Genus Zenaidura has the tail excessively length- 

 ened, cuneate, and with fourteen feathers. 



The Carolina Dove, Z. carolinensis, Bonap., of the 

 United States, is nearly thirteen inches long, the wing 

 five and three quarters inches ; the color above, bluish, 

 overlaid with brownish olive ; the head, sides of the neck, 

 and under parts generally, light brownish-red, strongly 

 tinged on the breast with purple ; the sides of the neck 

 with a patch of metallic purplish-red ; the bill black, and 

 feet yellow. The female is smaller, with less red be- 

 neath. At night, doves of this species roost upon the 

 ground, and some distance apart. 



The Turtle Dove, C. turtur, Linn., of the Old World, 

 celebrated for its gentleness and plaintive notes, is eleven 

 and a half inches long ; the upper parts tawny slate-color 

 spotted with brown ; the breast brownish, and the other 

 under parts white. 



The Genus Scardafella, represented by the Scaly Dove, 

 5. squamosa, Bonap., of the Rio Grande, which is only 

 eight inches long, has the bill lengthened, tail very long, 

 and much graduated. 



The Genus Chamcepelia, comprising the smallest doves 

 known, is represented by the Ground Dove, C. passerina, 

 Sw., of the Southern States, which is* only six and three 

 tenths inches long, and the wing three and a half inches ; 

 color above, grayish olive ; under parts light purplish-red. 



The Genus Oreopeleia, represented by the Key West 

 Pigeon, O. martinica, Reich., has the bill lengthened, 

 slender, feet large, and tail suborbicular. 



The Genus Starnoenas has the bill short, legs stout, 

 tail short and broad. It is represented by the Blue- 



