roLU.MIJll).K TUK I'KiKoNS. JJCT) 



kinds resort at all times to tlie lowlands and nian^jrovc-swanips aloni^ tlio 

 coasts, and to tlic nci,nid)orin,i,' islands and keys (l'i;;'e(iii Island and the two 

 (ioat Islands in iiartieiilai), where tliey luced in numliers, makini;- their nests in 

 trees, soini' at liij^h elcNatioiis.otiiers so low as to he within reaili oi' a jierson 

 standin.u, aceordin.i;' to thi' eonv(^nienee of tiie site. Lari^e nnniliers ol' sijiialis 

 are oltiui taken IVoni these ])laees and hroiiyht into the towns for sale. They 

 feed in coni|)any in the niorninj,' and alterno(Mi, and iis they olten feed at a 

 distance from tiieir roost in.Lf-plaees, lur^i' tlocks are sometimes seen in the 

 early inornin,^ and evi;nin;4 passinn- and rejiassin.i;' overheail, sometimes in 

 hij,di, at other times in low lli.^ht, ^oin^i;' to and returninif from tin; feeding- 

 ground or convenient waturinji;-])laee. Their food is ^lain, fruit, and herries, 

 nuts iuid seeds ; and they commit serious deiacilations on the ( iuiiiea-eorn 

 fields, not only hy the (luautity tlii'v devour, lait hy hreakinL,' down the 

 hrittle cornstalks with tlit^ wei;^lit of their liodics. They art; easily kejit 

 in confinement, and often hretMl and heconie (|uiet and contented, hut take 

 the earliest o])])ortunity of emanei,';ition. The nest is a iilatform of sticks 

 and twigs loosely |iut together, and hedded with softer materials, M'ith a 

 slight hollow in the centre. The eggs are two, glarish-white in color, vary- 

 ing in form and dimensions, hut usually long oval, measuring l.(i;> inches in 

 length hy l.V.\ in hn.'adth. 



According to Mr. L(>yland (Ihis, T, ]>. :'2'2) this I'igeon inhahits the keys or 

 small islands on the coast of Ifonduras. 



It was found at St. Croix liy Professor Alfred Xewton, frei|uenting the hills 

 in the north of the island, and occasionally in tlu' hrush-land on the south 

 sid(!. it was not very connuon,an<l was .said to l)e a visitor from I'orto Kieo ; 

 hut it undouhtedly iireeds on the island of St. Croix, as rrofessnr Newton 

 obtained a young hird, siiot duly L'S, which C(add not have lelt tlie ne.st 

 many days. A caged specimen of this bird, that had been in the jiosse.ssion 

 of Dr. Carden of St. Croix several years, was given to Professor Xewton by 

 that genth'man, and ])re.sented to tlie Zoiilogical Society of London. 



Mr. Audubon found the nests placed high or low according to circum- 

 stances, but never saw two im the same tree. He lias met with them on 

 the to[) of a cactus, only a few feet from the ground, or on a low branch of 

 a mangrove almost touching the water. They are said to resemlile that of 

 the connnon Passenger Pigeon, but are more compact and better lined; the 

 outer ])art being compo.sed of small dry twigs, the inner of fibrous roots and 

 grasses. The eggs are two, of an opa(|U(i white, roundish, and as large as 

 those of the common Pigeon. Mr. Audubon thiid<s that theses liirds may 

 have several broods in a season. None were known liy him to visit the 

 mainland of Florida. 



In captivity the.se birds may hv. easily managed, and !)reed readily, as Mr. 

 Audubon witnessed in the aviaries of Dr. Wilson and l!ev. Dr. Paclinian of 

 Charlestmi, S. C. 



In confinement they are said never to lay more than a single egg. The 



