SOLITARY PIGEON 159 



It is usually seen with its mate, for many indivi- 

 duals seem to pair for life ; but sometimes a dozen 

 or twenty individuals unite in one flock* It is resident, 

 comes a great deal about houses, and is familiar with 

 man, and lively in its habits. It sings a great deal in 

 summer and even on warm days in winter ; but its 

 tones are wanting in the wild pathos which gives a 

 charm to the melody of some of our larger species, 

 the song consisting of a succession of long, rather 

 loud, and somewhat monotonous notes, pleasant to 

 hear, like most bird-music, but nothing more. 



The nest is the usual slight structure of sticks ; the 

 eggs two, oval, and white. They breed twice, and 

 sometimes three times, in one season, the last brood 

 being hatched as late as April or even May, 



SOLITARY PIGEON 



Engyptila chalcauchenia 



Above greyish brown, head and nape plumbeous ; back of neck 

 with the feathers edged with iridescent bronzy green ; tail blackish, 

 broadly tipped with white ; central rectrices like the back ; beneath 

 pale vinaceous ; middle of throat, belly, and crissum white ; under 

 surface of wings bright chestnut ; bill black, feet yellowish ; length 

 10, wing 5.7 inches. Female similar. 



THIS Dove, which is a southern form of a widely 

 distributed group of species of the genus Engyptila, 

 formerly called Leptoptila, inhabits the woods of the 

 Plata district, and never, like other Pigeons, seeks 

 the open country to feed. It is solitary, although, 

 where many birds live in close proximity, three or 



