ZENAIDA MACULATA. 



141 



the ground seemed languid by comparison. This excessively lively 

 habit is, no doubt, directly caused by the conditions of life; the 

 sterile soil and scanty vegetation of the region it inhabits require in a 

 species going in large bodies, and subsisting exclusively on fallen seed, 

 a greater activity than is necessary in the rich fertile region further 

 north. 



Its song is composed of notes equal in length and number to that of 

 the Picazuro, but its voice is exceedingly hoarse, like that of the 

 European Wood-Pigeon. 



The great body of these birds retire, on the approach of summer, 

 from the Bio Negro valley, a few only remaining to breed. Their 

 nesting -habits and eggs are like those of the Picazuro. 



359. ZENAIDA MACULATA (Vieill.). 

 (SPOTTED DOVE.) 



Zenaida maculata, Surm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 497; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. 

 p. 132; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 143 (Buenos Ayres) ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, 

 p. 193 (Buenos Ayres) ; Gibson, Ibis, 1880, p. 8 (Buenos Ayres) ; White, 

 P. Z. S. 1882, p. 626 (Catainarca) ; Earrows, Auk, 1884, p. 275 (Entrerios). 



Description. Above pale brown; nape plumbeous; outer wing-coverts and 

 scapularies with a few black spots ; wings dark grey, with fine white margins ; 

 tail plumbeous, broadly ended with white, and crossed by a subapical black 

 hand ; middle rectrices like the back : beneath pale vinaceous, brighter on the 

 breast, and whiter on the throat ; bill black ; feet yellow : whole length 9*0 inches, 

 wing 5-5, tail 3-5. Female similar. 



Hab. South America, from the Amazons to Chili and Buenos Ayres. 



This is the commonest species of the Pigeon tribe in the Argentine 

 country, and is known to every one as the Torcasa, probably a corruption 

 of Tortola, Turtle-Dove. In autumn they often congregate in very 

 large flocks, and are sometimes observed migrating, flock succeeding 

 flock, all travelling in a northerly direction, and continuing to pass 

 for several consecutive days. But these autumnal migrations are not 

 witnessed every year, nor have I seen any return-migration in spring ; 

 while the usual autumn and winter movements are very irregular, and 

 apparently depend altogether on the supply of food. When the giant 

 thistle has covered the plains in summer incredible numbers of 

 Torcasas appear later in the season, and usually spend the winter on the 

 plains, congregating every evening in countless myriads wherever there 

 are trees enough to form a suitable roosting-place. 



On bright warm days in August, the sweet and sorrowful sob-like 

 song of this Dove, composed of five notes, is heard from every grove 



