4 TIMEHRI. 
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along with an unsteady gait, at the same time drooping 
one of her wings as if broken. This feint is evidently 
intended to distraét the attention of any would-be enemy: 
The food of this dove consists chiefly of small seeds which 
it picks from low weeds on the ground. In the Islands 
the seeds of the Mexican poppy, Avgemone mexicana, 
and the pink fruit of the “ Turk’s head” or globe caétus, 
Melocactus communis, make up its principal fare. 
Two other members of the genus Chamepelza occur in 
the colony, C. ¢alpacot: is very common on the Savan- 
nah, but we know nothing of its habits. 
One of the roughest of struétures is the nest of the 
Powise, Crax alector, which is a platform arrangement; 
fixed in a tree and so loosely put together that its con- 
tents can be easily seen by anyone standing under it. 
The eggs of the Powise are white and larger than those 
of any other game bird. The shells are exceedingly 
thick and rough, looking as if they had been first gummed 
and then sprinkled with sand, or with the comfit known 
as “ thousands,” and allowed todry, The Powise usually 
lays two eggs, but it is stated that this number is some- 
times increased to four. 
This bird has the odd habit ba swallowing bright 
objeéts, such as pebbles of coloured quartz, and their giz- 
zards often contain large pieces of the stone. We have 
seen pieces of bottles and small bits of broken sheet glass 
said to have been taken from the gizzard of one of these 
birds—-a tame one most likely. The edges of the glass 
had been worn smooth by attrition, 
The “ Kiskadee,” Pitangus sulphuratus and the “ Pipi- 
turie,” Zodirostrum cinereum, are both remarkable for the 
manner in which they depart from the generality of the 
