394 



NORTH AMERICAN WRDS. 



Orenpeleia mnrlinira. 



iliyht as low, swift, ami prr)tractecl, as he saw tl.em passing from Cuba to 

 Key West. They moved iu loose flocks of from five or six to a .lozen, and 



so very low as to almost seem to 

 touch the surface. They were fond 

 of going out early in the morning 

 from tlieir thickets to cleanse their 

 plumage in tlie slielly sand, but on 

 the least aj)proach of danger would 

 My back to the thickest part of the 

 woods, throw tliemfdves on the 

 ground, and run off with great 

 rapidity. Their movements of the 

 tail and neck are similar to those 

 of the Ciirolina Dove. Tlieir coo 

 is said to be neither so soft nor 

 so prolonged as that ,.f the common Dove, and n.ay be represented by tlie 

 syllable vhoc-irhoc-oh-oh-oh. When su.ldenly approached, they utter a 

 guttural gasping sound. They are said to alight on the lower branches of 

 shrubby trees, and to delight in the neighborhood of shady ponds always 

 inhabiting l,y preference the darkest solitudes. Whatever may have been 

 their abundance on Key AVest, in Mr. Audubon's time, it is certain that they 

 are very mre there now, as I am not aware of their having been taken of 

 late years by any of the numerous collectors who have visited South Rorida 

 since Mr. Audubon's time. 



The nest is described as formed of light dry twigs, in shape much 

 resembling that of the Carolina Dove. Occasionally it is placed on the 

 ground, and is then less elaborate. Some are placed on large brandies near 

 the ground, while others are built among slender twigs. 



Towards the middle of July, according to .Air. Audubon, they become so 

 abundant that sportsmen are able to shoot a score or more in a day They 

 feed on berries and the seeds of various plants, and are especially fond of 

 the fruit of the sea-gi-ape. 



Gexus STARNCENAS, Bonaparte. 



StanuvHos, B-.N-ArAiyri:, G..^. & Co q.. I.ist, 1838. (Type, ColumJm cjanoccphala, L.) 



Gkn. Char. IJill sliort ; eulnion about ono thinl tl.o rest of liea.l, nioa-siired from tlic 

 irontal Icatliers. L.-s vory stout and lai-e ; tardus bare on llie entire tibial joint nnd 

 covered wfh l.e.x.njronal scales, largest anteriorly, lon-er than the mid.lle toe and claw. 

 Inuer lateral elaw the larger, reacliu.g the base of the nii.ldle elaw ; all the elaws short 

 thick, and l,lunt. Iliud toe au.l elaw .short; half the mi.ldle. Wings .short, broad and 

 concave ; niueh rounded. Tail short, broad, nearly even, but slightly 'vaulte.l. 



The single species of Dove composing the genus in many respects resem- 

 bles the Partridges or Quails, both in external appearance and in manners. 



