384 KEY WEST PIGEON. 



I never felt, nor did my companion, that our faces and hands were 

 covered with musquitoes ; and although the perspiration made my eyes 

 smart, I was as much delighted as ever I had been on such an occasion. 

 We travelled onward, much in the same manner, until we reached the 

 opposite end of the island ; but not another bird did we meet this day. 



As we sat near the shore gazing on the curious light pea-green co- 

 lour of the sea, I unfolded my prize, and as I now more quietly observed 

 the brilliant changing metallic hues of its plumage, I could not refrain 

 from exclaiming — " But who will draw it ?"" for the obvious difficulties of 

 copying nature struck me as powerfully as they ever had done, and 

 brought to my memory the following passage : — " La nature se joue du 

 pinceau des hommes; — lorsqu' on croit qu'il a atteint sa plus grande 

 beaute, elle sourit et s'embeUit encore !"" 



We returned along the shore of this curious island to the garrison, 

 after which Major Glassel's barge conveyed me on board of the Ma- 

 rion. 



I have taken upon myself to name this species the Key West Pigeon, 

 and offer it as a tribute to the generous inhabitants of that island, who 

 favoured me with their friendship. 



The flight of this bird is low, swift, and protracted. I saw several 

 afterwards when they were crossing from Cuba to Key West, the only 

 place in which I found them. It flies in loose flocks of from five or six 

 to a dozen, with flappings having an interval apparently of six feet, so 

 very low over the sea, that one might imagine it on the eve of falling 

 into the water every moment. It is fond of going out from the thickets 

 early in the morning, for the purpose of cleansing itself in the shelly 

 sand that surrounds the island ; but the instant it perceives danger it 

 flies off" to the woods, throws itself into the thickest part of them, alights 

 on the ground, and runs off with rapidity until it thinks itself secure. 

 The jetting motions of its tail are much like those of the Carolina Dove, 

 and it moves its neck to and fro, forward and backward, as Pigeons are 

 wont to do. 



The cooing of this species is not so soft or prolonged as that of the 

 Common Dove, or of the Zenaida Dove, and yet not so emphatical as 

 that of any true Pigeon with which I am acquainted. It may be imi- 

 tated by pronouncing the following syllables : — Whoe-whoe-oh-oh-oh. 

 When suddenly approached by man, it emits a guttural gasping-like 

 sound, somewhat in the manner of the Common Tame Pigeon on such an 



