380 NORTH AM KUIL'AN- BIRDS. 



(\>tnlH'r, wlicn lliov nil ivliiriu'd to tlu' West India lalaiids, whence they 

 eanu', a. id wlicre tlii'y are most niiniorous. The males were observed to reaeh 

 the keys in which thev ])assed the summer to lireed before the females, and 

 were lieard cooing', as if in search of tiieir mates, at least a week before the 

 arrival of the latter. They lie,Li;in to lay their (^'gs about the first of ^Fay. 

 When they Icavi', in their autiunnal mi,t,'rati()ns, they dejjart in small groui)s 

 by laniilies. 



Tliese birds arc said by Mr. Audubon to be (h'ound Doves in habit. 

 Tiicir ilij,'ht re.semliles that of the so-called (Jround Dove, and is seldom 

 higher than the to])s of the mangroves, and never to any considerable dis- 

 tance exee])t durin;,' tlu'ir migrations. Though they alight on trees with 

 ease, and can walk well among their branches, they s])en(l the greater portion 

 of their time on the ground, and walk well there, walking or running in 

 search of food with lightness and celerity, and invariably roost on the ground. 



Tiieir flight is similar to that of the Carolina Dove in the firm movements 

 of the wings, though they do not produce the same whistling sounds. Tn 

 flying over the water they keeji near its surface : and when started from the 

 ground tiicy only lly to a short distance, and icalight in the gra.ss or a thicket. 

 They are extremely gentle, so nuich so that ^Nlr. Aiulubon has occasionally 

 ai)i)roaclied so near as to almost t(au:h them with his gun as they stood gaz- 

 ing at him, apparently devoid of all fear. 



They Iireed in the few keys that are covered with grass and low shrubs. 

 They always place their nest on the ground, often with so little concealment 

 that it may be easily discovered by any one .searching for it. (Occasionally 

 it is placed between tufts of grass, the tojis of which bend over and conceal 

 it. A small hole is scooped in the sand in wliich a slight nest, composed of 

 matted ' lados of dry gra.sses, is placed, circular in form, and embedded in an 

 outer cnilection of dry leaves and twigs. The whole fabric is said to be 

 more comjiact than the nest of any other PigeoJi. The eggs, always two, 

 are described as pure white and translucent. 



When sitting on her eggs or on her young, the female rarely moved from 

 them exce])t wh(;n an attempt was made to catch her, which she always 

 evadcnl with great dexterity, gliding with great (piickness to a short distance, 

 and watching the movements of the intruder with drooping wings and an 

 air of deep sorrow, her whoU' frame trembling as if with intense cold. 



Mr. Audubon took alive two of the young birds, which he fed from his 

 mouth with Indian-corn meal. Tiiis they ate with avidity, until ])laced 

 imder the care of a common tame Tigeon, that at once fostered them. They 

 lived, and were taken to Dr. nachman in Charleston. 



Their notes are said to closely reseud)le the cooing of the Carolina Dove, 

 but I're somewhat more soft and tender. During midday, when the heat in 

 the central ]iarts of the keys is intense, these birds are silent. 



TJieir flesh was found to be excellent, and they were g(!uerally very fat. 

 They fed on grass .seeds, on the leaves of ciu'tain aromatic plants, and on 



