ORNITHOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES 213 



TALPACOTI GROUND DOVE. 



Chaemepelia talpacoti (Temm. & Knip.) 



We found the nests of this common little ground dove 

 usually in low bushes, seldom more than six feet from the 

 ground. The nest was nothing more than a thin platform 

 of small twigs or grass stems, varying according to the indi- 

 vidual. It had no true inner lining but the material for the 

 nest hollow graded in fineness. The whole structure was 

 about 10 cm. long, and the slight depression for the eggs 

 2 cm. deep. 



The two eggs were pure glossy white with measure- 

 ments averaging 22.5 x 18 mm. Two was the usual normal 

 number, but one and very rarely three were found in a nest. 

 It was one of the commonest nests to be discovered during 

 the months of February, March and April, and seemed espe- 

 cially marked as a prey for nest ravagers. Not more than 

 half the young ever reached maturity, which made it very 

 probable that the parents raised more than one brood a year. 



RED MOUNTAIN DOVE. 



Geotrygon montana (Linn.) 



Though one of the common jungle residents, the red 

 mountain dove was seldom seen, for it merged so completely 

 with its surroundings that one passed it by, time after time, 

 without ever knowing that such a bird existed. If it were 

 discovered, careful watch had to be kept or it would seem- 

 ingly disappear where it sat. The nest was equally difficult 

 to find and usually could only be discovered by frightening 

 the bird from the eggs. If it thought there were a chance 

 to escape undetected, the parent would quietly slip from the 

 nest to the ground, run a few steps and noiselessly flutter 

 to a protecting branch without the hunter being aware of 

 its presence. 



The nests were built away from the ground, the dis- 

 tance varying from a foot to five feet. The bird usually 



