32 



Brewster 07i a Collection of Arizona Birds. [January 



14S. Zenaidura carolinensis {Linn.) Bp. Carot.ina 

 Dove. — An abundant species throughout most of the regions 

 traversed . 



149. Melopelia leucoptera (ZzVzra.) ^/. White-winged 

 Dove. — This Dove was not uncommon about Tucson, where 

 specimens were taken at intervals between April 26 and Ma}^ 23. 

 They frequented the mescjuite tracts and fed largely on mesquite 

 "•beans." Their notes were similar to those of the Turtle Dove, 

 but hoarser, and uttered with moi'e apparent eftbrt. They were 

 usually rather shy. 



On the journey to California they were occasionally seen in 

 drearv deserts where few other birds seemed able to support life. 

 At Yuma they were actually common, but none were found to 

 the westward of this point. A nest obtained July 8, on the Gila 

 River, was placed in a mesquite on the side of a sand-hill. It 

 contained two eggs, slightly incubated, which measiu'e respec- 

 tively 1. 30 X -91 and 1. 20 X -92. Arizona skins are identical with 

 Texas ones. 



" Iris dark orange ; bill black : legs dull red ; bare orbital space blue." 



150. Chamaepelia passerina {Linn.) Sxvains. Ground 

 Dove. — Rather common about Tucson, where a number of 

 specimens were obtained. 



The Arizona males in my series are much lighter colored than those 

 from Florida, and their bills, instead of being j^ellow or dull orange, as in 

 eastern birds, are pure Indian red, with the usual dusky tip. These dif- 

 ferences appear to be constant, but my material is not sufficiently exten- 

 sive to enable nie to judge of their bearing or importance.* In some 

 generalizations, based upon the examination of fifty-six examples in the 

 Smithsonian Museum, Mr. Ridgwaj says : t "As a rule, Florida and 

 West India skins are most deeply colored," but he does not mention an^' 

 variations in the color of the bill, which is simply described as -'yellow." 



"Iris pink (^No. 300) ; pinkish-brown (No. 301); bill red. tipped with 

 blackish; feet and legs pale flesh-color." 



151. Lophortyx gambeli Nutt. Gambee's Qliaie. — Spec- 

 imens wei'e obtained near Tucson, and others noted at and 

 beyond Walters, a station in the Colorado Desert. The first 

 Lophortyx calif or7zicus were met with in the San Gorgonio Pass, 

 a day's drive to the westward of where the last Gambel's Par- 

 tridges were seen. 



* Prof. Baird has described a var. pallescens from Cape St. Lucas, to which these 

 specimens are possibly referable. See Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. Philad., 1859. 

 fHistory of North American Birds, Vol. Ill, p. 390. 



