BIRDS OF THE TRES MAKIAS ISLANDS. 



35 



than they do representatives of palliatus from the adjacent mainland. 

 A series of specimens from the southern eiid of Lower California will 

 probably show intergradation between palliatus find Jrazari. The fol- 

 lowing measurements show the comparative sizes of birds from various 

 localities: 



Measurements of Heematopus palliatus, H.frazari, and H. galapagensis. 



Columba flavirostris madrensis Nelson. Tres Marias Pigeon. 



Columba flavirostris Gray son, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XIV, p. 274, 1871; 



Lawr., Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 304, 1874. 

 Columba Jiavirostris madrensis Nelson, Proc. L5iol. Soc. Washington, XII, p. 6, 1898. 



These handsome birds were rather common on Maria Madre and 

 Maria Magdaleua, ranging to the summits of the islands, and they 

 probably live also on Maria Cleofa. On Maria Madre they were most 

 numerous along the wooded sides of a canyon some distance back from 

 the coast, where they usually perched among the higher branches of 

 the trees or were seen Hying about by twos and threes. Early in the 

 morning a few could be found among the smaller trees on the bases of 

 the foothills near the settlement, but later in the day they retired farther 

 inland to the more heavily wooded slopes. On Maria Magdaleua they 

 were numerous in some trees near a group of deserted houses and in 

 old clearings a short distance back from the shore. They came to these 

 trees to feed upon the ripening fruit, but were rather shy. When one 

 becomes startled and takes wing it makes a loud Happing noise that 

 alarms its companions, and then ail dash swiftly away. They were less 

 confiding than most of the birds on the islands, but were not so shy as 

 their representatives on the mainland. Wild figs and the small fruit 

 of a tree, probably a species of Psidium, or wild guava, were favorite 

 articles of food. Their loud cooing note is uttered at short intervals 

 and is one of tne characteristic sounds in the forests they frequent. 

 They are essentially arboreal in habits and are rarely seen near the 

 ground. 



