209 



COPPER-COLOURED GROUND DOVE. 



Peristera Martinica. 



PLATE XXV. 



Columba Martinica, Auct. Columbe-Galline roux violet, 

 Temm. Pig. 8vo, p. 400. Columba cuprea, Wagler, Syst. 

 Av. sp. 76. 



IN form, as well as in its habits, this species of 

 Ground Dove approaches so near to some of the 

 Tetraonidae, as to have acquired in the West Indies 

 the name of the Mountain Partridge. It inhabits 

 elevated and rocky districts, where it runs with 

 great quickness, emulating in this respect the typi- 

 cal Rasores. Its legs are long as compared with 

 those of the Pigeons, and are bare a little above the 

 tarsal joint, characters indicative of its terrene habits ; 

 its wings are also short and rounded, and the tail 

 not so long as that of the species already described. 

 Its flight is consequently low, and by quick repeated 

 strokes of the pinions, like that of the Common Par- 

 tridge or Pheasant. It lives constantly upon the 

 ground, except during the time of repose, when it 

 perches upon the lowest limbs, or the stump of a 

 decayed tree. In its mode of nidification and breed- 



VOL. ix. 



