ECTOP1STES M1GRATOR1A. 336 



CF.NIS 11. K(Toi'Kn:s. TIIF, \'\c,\ 



GEN. Cu. Bill, rather tony anil ili ml' r. Toil, n ry lony and jiointed or yraduat-ii. Sternum, rathir wide. Cteca, 

 tmall. 



Memlx-rs of thi< genus are quite large, not very dull in color, with conspicuous white markings on the long tail. There 

 is but one species within our limits. 



ECTOPISTES M1GRATORIA. 



Wild Pigeon. 

 Eclopislei miyratoria Sw.vix, Zool. Jour., Ill; 1827, 355. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si>. Cir. Form, robust. Si/o, large. Sternum, stout. Tongue, moderately long, thin, narrow at tip which is pointed. 



i, very small. Tail, long and irraduatcd. 



(.'oi.oi!. Ai/u/t mnli'. Head all around, neck, c-hin. hack , upper wing cnverts, upper tail coverts, under wing coverls, 

 -ides, anil flanks, a-hs-blne, lightest .11 r , T name I p .rtioiis. Wings, including seapularies, brown, tlie latter 



ted with large patches of black and tin- tips of secondaries and miti-r c Igcs of primaries arc nearly white. Tail, hluish- 

 a-li. I IT, lining ilarkcr toward the tips [ the mid'U.' 1'eatln rs.and mucli li^htor, gradually lading int i white, on I lie tips and 

 outer w, There i- a <]>>: ,f tinnaiir.in near the lia-al pnrt i ,n of tli inner WC!H ,:fall the feathers exerpt- 



ing Central pair, wl,i<-!i is followed. ai:er a -Imrt interval, liy an oliiique hand ( f l-.lack. Sides and haek of neck, ^ 

 witli \i,,!et whieli ha- green and golden n-tlections. JScneuth, pnr|ilisli-rcd, darkest anteriorly and fading into white on 

 the alidoiiieii. I'mler tail e ivert-. pure whit '. Tih!a. ])iirplis'i. 



Ailuil f'male. Quite similar to the male, hut browner ab.ive, Is less iridescent on the neck, and is pale ashy-yellow 

 beneath. 



Ynunjf. Are not unlike the adult female, but are much browner above and are dark-brown on the neck below, while 

 the featln-r> ot L'e 1 wi;h white. The chin is white, and the wing feathers are edged with rufous. Iris, 



red, bill, black, and feet, yellow, in :ii 



OBSERVATIONS. 



-ionally the head is blue all around, but otherwise there is little variation in plumage. This species may be at 



"' i'e ,'^ni/e,| by the i mill ted tail, cinnamon spots at its base, which are present in all stages, large size, and colors us de- 



!>iited. a- a slimmer resident, throughout Middle and Northern North America, wintering in the section 

 south of New Kngland. 



DIMENSIONS. 



-\\> irementsof specimens from Xorth America. Length. Ifi-H-J; stretch, 23-50: wins, 8-J5: tail, 8'25; bill, 



TO; tarsus, 1'05. ' ii.rimen, I7--J.">; tent of wing, M*OQ; longest wiag, 8'A); tail, -5(); bill, -Ml; tarsus, 



I'll". 5 n, 10-00; smallest extent of wing, -J.I-OO; shortest wing, 8'(KI; tail, S'OO; bill, -00; tarsus, I'OO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NK.STS AND Kt;<,S. 



, placed in trees. They are not very ela'i n-.ite structures, b in-j of twigs and sticks, without any lining 



whatever. 



I, one or two in number, varying from elliptical to oval in form, pure white or creamy in color. Dimensions from 

 l-OOxl-50 to I-l-J.\l-55. 



11AIMTS. 



The Wild Pigeons are now far from being common in Eastern Massachusetts and it 

 has been many years since I have seen a flock of any size here. Solitary individuals or 

 small groups are to be found regularly in autumn and occasionally a pair will breed in the 

 wilder sections, and Mr. W. W. Eager found a nest a year or two since in Wcston. My 

 friend, .Mr August Koch, of Williaitisport, of whom I have spoken before as an enthusi- 

 astic sportsman and ornithologist, kindly sends me the following notes on this species. 



"Should severe weather or late snow-storms come on in March, after the Wild Pig- 



