THE KED-BILLED PIGEON. 



maining two, including the type specimen, are slightly pointed at the smaller 

 end. Their color is pure white with but little gloss. 



The type specimen (No. 20831, U. S. National Museum collection, PI. 4, 

 Fig. 2), was collected near Hidalgo, Texas, April 26, 1878, by Asst. Surg. 

 James C. Merrill, U. S. Army. It measures 40 by 27.5 millimetres, another 3!) 

 by 27.4 millimetres, and the remaining two specimens, each measure 37 by 27.5 

 millimetres. 



45. Columba leucocephala LINN^US. 



WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. 



Columba leucocephala LINNAEUS, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, i. 1758, 164. 



(B 447, C 369, R 458, C 541, U 314.) 



GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE: Southern Keys of Florida, Greater Antilles, Bahamas, also 

 Santa Cruz, St. Bartholomew, and probably other islands of the Virgin Group and 

 Little Antilles, also along the coast of Honduras. 



The breeding range of the White-crowned Pigeon within the borders of 

 the United States is confined to the southern Florida Keys. 



Mr. W. E. D. Scott, in his paper on the "Birds of the Gulf Coast of Flor- 

 ida," refers to this species as follows: "A regular summer resident at Key 

 West and vicinity, and Mr. Atkins also took it on one occasion at Punta 

 Rassa (see Auk, Vol. v, p. 185). Though a regular summer resident, it seems 

 not at all common at Key West, though quite abundant on neighboring keys 

 in July, August, and September. Mr. Atkins says that they arrive at Key 

 West from May 1 to 15, and remain till November." 1 



Dr. Henry Bryant, in his "List of Birds seen at the Bahamas in 1859," 

 makes the following statement about this species: "This bird is a constant 

 resident, though not frequently seen in winter, at which time it is much loss 

 gregarious in its habits than in spring and summer. The number is proba- 

 bly augmented, during and after the breeding season, by birds that have 

 passed the winter further south. It breeds in communities, in some places, 

 as at Grassy Kays, Andros Island, in vast numbers; here the nests were 

 made on the tops of the prickly pear, which cover the whole kay; at the 

 Biminis and Buena Vista Kay, Ragged Island, on the mangroves; and at Long 

 Rock, near Exuma, on the stunted bushes. I do not think they ever select 

 a large kay for their breeding place. The eggs are laid by the middle of 

 May, and the young leave the nest about the 1st of July, previous to which 

 great numbers are killed by the negroes. It is a shy bird when not breeding, 

 even in the most uninhabited localities. Its food consists entirely of berries and 

 fruits." 2 



According to Audubon, the White-headed Pigeon arrives on the south- 

 ern keys of Florida about the 20th of April, sometimes not till the 1st of May. 

 They are at all times exceedingly wary, probably on account of the war that 



'Auk, VI, 1889, p. 246. 



Proceedings Boston Society Natural History, 1859, pp. 121, 122. 



