( 443 ) 

 WHITE-HEADED PIGEON. 



COLUMBA LEUCOCEPHALA, LiNN. 

 PLATE CLXXVII. Male and Female. 



The White-headed Pigeon arrives on the Southern Keys of the Floridas, 

 from the Island of Cuba, about the 20th of April, sometimes not until the 

 1st of May, for the purpose of residing there for a season, and rearing its 

 young. On the 30th of April, I shot several immediately after their ar- 

 rival from across the Gulf Stream. I saw them as they approached the 

 shore, skimming along the surface of the waters, flying with great rapidity, 

 much in the manner of the common house species, but not near each other 

 like the Passenger Pigeon. On nearing the land, they rose to the height 

 of about a hundred yards, surveyed the country in large circles, then with 

 less velocity gradually descended, and alighted in the thickest parts of the 

 mangroves and other low trees. None of them could be easily seen in 

 those dark retreats, and we were obhged to force them out, in order to 

 shoot them, which we did at this time on the wing. 



In creeping among the bushes to obtain a view of them whilst 

 alighted, I observed that the more I advanced, the more they retired 

 from me. This they did by alighting on the ground from the trees, 

 among which they could not well make way on wing, although they could 

 get on with much ease below, running off and hiding at every convenient 

 spot that occurred. These manoeuvres lasted only a few days, after 

 which I could see them perched on the tops of the trees, giving a prefer- 

 ence perhaps to dry branches, but not a marked one, as some other spe- 

 cies are wont to do. 



They are at all times extremely shy and wary, more so in fact than 

 any species with which I am acquainted. The sight of a man is to them 

 insupportable, perhaps on account of the continued war waged against 

 them, their flesh being juicy, well flavoured, and generally tender, even in 

 old birds. Never could I get near one of them so long as it observed me. 

 Indeed the moment they perceive a man, off they go, starting swiftly 

 with a few smart raps of the wings, and realighting in a close covert for 

 a while, or frequejitly flying to another key, from which they are sure to 



