340 CHAMJEPELIA. 



HABITS. 



Although the Zenaida Dove is a well-known bird on the Bahamas and in the West 

 Indies, no one appears to have observed it among the Keys, excepting Audubon who found 

 it quite common there. When on the Keys; I questioned the inhabitants concerning this 

 Dove but they knew nothing about it, yet it may possibly occur as a rare visitor; but I did 

 not see it nor did my assistants meet with it, therefore I can add nothing new relative to 

 it. Audubon says that it spends the greater portion of its time on the ground and that its 

 habits are not dissimilar to those of the Ground Dove. 



GENUS III. CIIAMyEPELIA. THE LITTLE DOVES. 



GEN. CH. Size, very small. Bill, slender. Tail, short and rounded, nut exceeding the wings in lenyth. Sternum, not 

 wide. Feet, small. 



Members of this genus are very small, not very dull in color, with no conspicuous white markings anywhere. There 

 is but one species within our limits. 



CHAMJEPELIA PASSERINA. 



Ground Dove. 

 Chamxpelia passerina SWAIN, Zool. Jour., Ill; 1827, 358. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, rather slender. Size, small. Sternum, not stout. Tongue, short, moderately thick and fleshy, fur- 

 rowed above, but horny at tip which is provided with c larse cilia. Ssxes, not similar. 



COLOR. Adult male. Top of head and occiput, bluish-a^h, with the edges of the feathers darker. Remainder of up- 

 per portions, excepting secondaries and primaries, brownish-ash, while the outer wing coverts are edged with purplish-ivd. 

 There are rounded spotsof black, glossed with violet, on the the latter named, mid oblique patches on thescapuhirirs uf tho 

 same color. The tail feathers arc slightly tipped with white, and the entire terminal portion, excepting central pair, is pur- 

 plish-black, which extends to the base beneath. Wings, dark-brown, with the ba*e beneath, under wing coverts, and in- 

 ner webs, excepting tips, cinnamon-red. Forehead, sides cf head and neck, and under portions, pnrpltnh-red, lighter <m 

 the threat, and becoming browner on the abdomen and under tail c iverts, where the feathers are tipped with white. Part- 

 ly concealed spots on the breast are dark-brown and the feathers of this part are very narrowly edged with dark purplish- 

 red. 



Adult ftmale. Differs from the male in being paler above and below, while the blue of the head is overwashed with 

 brownish. 



Nesllinys. Are not unlike the adult but are duller and decidedly rufous beneath, especially on the abdomen. Iris, red, 

 yellow, or red and yellow mixed, bill, yellow, black at tip, and feet, yellow, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens are very uniform in color, and although skins from Key West are a little smaller in size, they do not ap- 

 pear darker than those from further north. Known by the small size, rounded tail , and colors as described. Distributed, 

 as a onitant resident, throughout the Carol inns and southward. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of sixty specimens from Florida. Length, 7'00; stretch, ll'Ofl; wing, 3'60; tail, 2 32; bill, '52; 

 tarsus, -65. Longest specimen, 7-5C; greatest extent of wing, 11'5<); longest wing, 380; tail, 2*60; bill, '58; tarsus, '80. 

 Shortest specimen, 6'50; smallest extent of wing, 10'5<); shortest wing, 3'40; tail, 2'05; bill, '45; tarsus, -52. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees or bushes or on the ground. They are rather elaborate structures, being composed of twigs and 

 weeds, lined with Spanish moss. 



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

 63x-80 to -65x-90. 



