36 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 134 
depth of color, but in a considerable series I have seen only one that 
could not be separated easily on close examination, and that single 
specimen does not agree entirely with the island series. 
CLARAVIS PRETIOSA (Ferrari-Pérez): Blue Ground Dove, Tortolita Azul 
Peristera pretiosa FERRARI-P£REz, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 9, Oct. 2, 1886, 
p. 175. (Brasil.) 
These handsome little doves, of shy and retiring habit, were found 
sometimes in swampy woodland, as in the area near Catival, and 
sometimes along the more open trails on the upland where the larger 
trees of the forest had been cut. In early morning they were en- 
countered in plantations of platanos and yuca. Occasionally, while 
moving quietly, I had brief glimpses of them as they walked on the 
ground under the shelter of leaves and branches, but more often they 
were not observed until they flushed and flew with swift, direct 
flight, traveling low down, usually to drop in some spot that was 
difficult of access. Three males were taken on January I1, 25, and 31. 
LEPTOTILA PLUMBEICEPS BATTYI Rothschild: Gray-headed Dove, 
Paloma Cabeciceniza 
Leptoptila battyi W. Rotuscuitp, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 12, Dec. 30, 1901, 
p. 33. (Coiba Island, Panama.) 
The gray-headed dove was one of the common birds in the forests 
of Coiba Island, so abundant in fact that in spite of their secretive 
habits I saw them nearly every day, sometimes in the swampy wood- 
lands back of the mangroves near the river mouths, sometimes in the 
great forest of the interior. They live and feed on the ground, usu- 
ally two or three together, rising to low perches on logs or branches 
when flushed if not too badly frightened, or, if startled, flying swiftly 
to secure cover. Occasionally I had random glimpses of them walk- 
ing with bobbing heads among the shadows, or standing completely 
motionless, when it was difficult to distinguish them in the dim light 
of their haunts. In early morning they came out into the open trails, 
but when startled darted at once to cover. 
Some of the males were calling, a single hooting note, so highly 
ventriloquial that we never succeeded in following it to see the actor 
perform, though we were certain of the source. Usually the birds 
when calling appeared to rest on low perches near the ground, where 
they were completely concealed ; when we came too near they became 
silent and flew or walked away. But always the impression was that 
the sound came from the trees rather than from the undergrowth 
near at hand. 
