BIRDS OF PORTO RICO. 49 



preclude attacks on sound oranges. Hard ivorylike grass seeds (Olyra latifolia) 

 were in two stomachs and pits of the moral (Cordia sp.) in two. One bird had 

 eaten seeds of a spurge (Chamcesycc sp.), and other undetermined seeds belong- 

 ing to the madder, myrtle, and spurge families were found. Leaves occurred in 

 four stomachs and in one made a large part of the bulk. 



Near Manati the birds fed on the fallen fruit of the manchineel (Hippomane 

 manchinella) , which to human beings is very poisonous. This was the only 

 locality in which the birds were observed in trees. 



The quail-dove may be considered a game bird, and should be given the same 

 open season as the larger pigeons. In its food habits it is harmless and does a 

 certain amount of good by eating harmful seeds. 



KEY WEST QUAIL-DOVE. Geotryyon chrysia Salvadori. 

 Perdiz Martiniquena, Barbequejo. 



Taylor (1S64, p. 171) says that the Key West quail-dove is not uncommon in 

 Porto Rico, and Gundlach (1878, p. 347) records a specimen in the collection 

 of Blanco and a drawing in the album of Bello. Stahl (1883, p. 148) had a male 

 in his collection taken on the island. Bowdish (MS.) says that they were 

 found on Mona from August 9 to 21, 1901, but he did not preserve specimens. 

 A perdiz, possibly of this species, was described to me near Palo Seco, but I 

 did not meet with it. 



TEMMINCK'S QUAIL-DOVE. Geotrygon mystacea (Temminck and Knip). 

 Perdiz. 



A specimen in the National Museum, collected on Culebra Island February 9, 

 1899, by A. B. Baker, of the Fish Commission, is the only record of Temminck's 

 quail-dove for this region (Riley, 1903, p. 14). None were found during my 

 stay on Culebra, and it may be that the bird no longer occurs there. It has been 

 previously recorded in St. Croix. 



PORTO RICAN GROUND DOVE. Chwmepelia passerina trochila Bonaparte. 

 ROLAj Rolita., Tortolita. 



The ground dove is a common resident species on all the islands visited, 

 except Desecheo, being most abundant on Culebra. In Porto Rico it is rarely 

 found above 500 feet altitude, but in following inland along the courses of 

 streams it occasionally ranges up to 1,200 feet, as at Cayey and Lares. The 

 birds occur on stony hillsides, in plowed fields, brush-covered pastures, and open 

 country in general. They walk about quickly, with long steps and rapidly 

 nodding heads, picking up seeds, bits of gravel, etc., as they go. Before an 

 intruder they walk rapidly away, raising the tail nervously, or after crouching 

 to the ground rise with a sudden flutter of wings and dart swiftly away, 

 exposing the red undersurface of the remiges. The birds are found in pairs, 

 or occasionally, before or after the breeding season, in small flocks. After 

 flying a short distance they drop to the ground or perch in rather open trees, 

 sitting close together. When alarmed they sidle quickly along the limbs, hiding 

 behind them, or suddenly take flight. The males utter a loud note, coo-coo- 

 coo-coo, when perched in the trees, and during summer these calls are answered 

 from every side. The males also have a habit of sailing out in short circles, with 

 wings stiffly spread, giving them an odd kitelike appearance. 



The breeding season probably extends from the first of March to the last of 

 August, though on Culebra the birds remained in flocks until the 10th of April 

 before pairing. Nests on Vieques were large, deeply cup shaped, and contained 

 much material, while Porto Rican nestsi were slight and flimsy, so that in many 

 cases the eggs could be seen from beneath. Two eggs, white in color, form a 

 9767°— Bull. 326—16 1 



