ANIMAL KINGDOM. 123 



pigeon. The latter generally seeks its food in the fruits of shrubs, 

 and often on the ground ; the other on larger trees, and seldom 

 alights lower. Next to these may be mentioned eight kinds of 

 doves, of which four only are known here as such, whilst the 

 others are designated by the names of partridge and ortolans : 

 the former are chiefly distinguished from the latter by their 

 superior size. In general they prefer cool localities, such as the 

 banks of rivers, particularly as they are fond of bathing, and of 

 drinking pure limpid water. The ortolans are smaller, and their 

 habits somewhat different. The Blue Ortolan (Columba cinerea) 

 is a beautiful bird, of an ashy blue colour, spotted with black: it 

 is not so common as the other, and prefers the high woods. The 

 Red Ortolan, or Ground Dove (Oolumba Cocotzin?), is of a reddish- 

 brown colour, barred with black : another species is the smallest, 

 and is found only, it appears, at the Bocas' Islets and at Cedras ; 

 it is of a lighter colour. The partridge is, in size, interme- 

 diate between the dove and the ortolan. The habits of the 

 blue ortolan are but imperfectly known, from its being so exces- 

 sively shy ; the red ortolan, on the contrary, is familiar and gre- 

 garious, and troops of forty and sixty alight at times in the rice 

 fields, or among the maize-stubble ; the smallest species are always 

 seen in pairs, the male and female seeking their food side by side. 

 These doves, particularly the red ortolan, are easily tamed. 



A species of Tinamoo is also very common here : it is about 

 the size of a partridge, and is met with almost everywhere in the 

 colony : it seems to prefer copses or underbrush, on the borders 

 of the high woods. The Tinamoo is known here by the appella- 

 tion of caille, or quail: it is a very difficult shot, unless seen 

 feeding on the ground, as it starts up in flight quite suddenly, 

 and alights at a very short distance : it also runs very rapidly 

 through the underwood. The Tinamoo lays two eggs, of a most 

 beautiful violet colour, and sits with such fondness on them as, 

 in that state, to be easily caught with the hand. This bird has 

 a peculiarly tremulous and prolonged whistle, the note of the male 

 being different from that of the female : they are heard early in 

 the morning, at sunset, and also at mid-day, and midnight ; and so 

 regularly are their notes timed in general, that they serve as the 

 peasant's chronometer. As I have already stated, all the above 

 gallinaceans are delicate and excellent game; and the ramiers 

 and doves are at times offered for sale in our markets. 



