APPENDIX 385 



white ; middle of belly white ; short bill. This rail is an Old World 

 species of casual occurrence in Eastern North America. 



Note. Rails have long, narrow bodies which enable them to run through the 

 reeds and marsh grasses. They are only found in marshes covered with reeds, 

 wild rice, or rushes. Their long toes enable them to run about on lily-pads, 

 floating grasses, and soft mud. 



124. Ground Dove. Columbigallina terrestris. 



Top of head slate color ; glossed with blue on head and neck ; back 

 brownish gray; outer tail feathers tipped with white; forehead and 

 under parts vinaceous ; easily distinguished by small size, about half 

 the size of the mourning dove or common wild dove. Length, 6^ in. , 

 wing, 3> in. ; tail 2> in. 



Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf States, West Indies, and Northern 

 South America ; breeding from South Carolina to Louisiana. 



" This dove frequents both pines and 'hummocks,' lake shores and old fields, 

 and in some Southern towns is a familiar bird of the quieter streets. By no 

 means shy. Favorite roosting places densely foliaged orange-trees." Chap- 

 man. 



125. White-winged Dove. Melopelia leucoptera. 



Plumage bluish gray ; easily distinguished by large white patch on 

 wings ; outer under tail feathers tipped with white ; sides of head and 

 neck iridescent green marked with steel-blue spot. Length, 12 in.; 

 wing, 6} in. ; tail, 4% in. 



Hab. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas to Central America, occa- 

 sional in Florida. 



126. Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macroura. 

 Carolina Dove. 



Slaty brown above ; under parts red on neck and breast, buff be- 

 low; neck iridescent; tail long, 5^ in. ; small black mark below the 

 ear ; under feathers tipped with white ; resembles the wild pigeon, 

 but is smaller and brown on the rump instead of slate color ; flies with 

 loud whistling sound, made by the wings ; nests in trees, but on the 

 ground when there are no trees. Length, 11^-13 in. ; wing, 5^ in. 



Hab. North America, from Maine, Canada, and Oregon, south to 

 Panama and West Indies. 



Note. Mr. Shields, the editor of Recreation, claims that the dove is not a 

 legitimate game bird and that it should not be killed at any time. He says : 

 " It is a beautiful and harmless creature, too pretty and too innocent to be re- 

 garded as game. There are few States in the Union where sportsmen continue 

 to kill these birds." 



