150 



North American Birds Eggs. 





^^:,^ 



-'^ 



3 17. Zenaida Dove. Zenaida zoiaida. 



Range.— West Indies; in summer, on the Florida Keys, but not in great num- 

 bers. 



This species is similar in size to the ^Mourning Dove, but it has a short and 

 square tail, and the secondaries are tipped with white, and the underparts more 

 ruddy. They generally nest upon the ground, but occasionally in small bushes, 

 laying two white eggs a trifle larger than those of the preceding species. Size 

 1.20 X .90. The nests are made of grasses and twigs, on the ground under bushes. 



3 18. White-fronted Dove. Lept(}tnii tiiJrivciitris brnclnjptrra. 



Range. — Mexico and Central America north to southern Texas. 



Slightly larger than the last, much paler below, with no black ear mark as in 

 the two preceding species, and with the forehead whitish. They build their 

 nests of sticks, grasses and weeds, and place them in tangled vines and thickets 

 a few feet from the ground. Their two eggs, which are laid in May and June, 

 have a creamy white or buffy color. Size 1.15 x .85. The.y cannot be called a 

 common species within our borders. 



3 19. White-winged Dove. MeloprUn Iriiroptera. 



Central America, Mexico and the southwestern border of the United 



Range. 

 States. 



This species is 12 inches in length, has a black patch 

 on the ear coverts, white tips to the greater and lesser 

 coverts and some of the secondaries, and broad white 

 tips to the outer tail feathers, which are black. This 

 species is very abundant in some localities within our 

 borders. Their nests are very frail platforms of twigs 

 placed in trees or bushes or precariously suspended 

 among tangled vines. Their two eggs are white or 

 creamy white, and measure 1.15 x .85. 



[White.l 



320. Ground Dove. ColumbigaUiiiti iiasscrina tenrstris. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States to eastern Texas. 



The Ground Doves are the smallest of the family, measuring but about 6.5 

 inches in length. Their nesting habits and eggs are exactly like those of the 

 next to be described. They are very abundant, especially along the South At- 

 lantic coast. 



320a. Mexican Ground Dove. CiilumbigaUi na passeriniis pallescens. 



Range.— Border of the United States from Texas to southern 

 California and southward. 



This paler sub-species builds a nest of twigs and weeds, 



placing the flat structure either in low bushes or on the 



ground. Their two white eggs are laid during April to July, 



they sometimes rearing two broods a season. Size of eggs, 



85 x .65. 



320b. Bermuda Ground Dove. 



[White.] 



Columbigallina passaina b(7-mu liana. 



Range. — Bermuda. Smaller and paler than the last; otherwise the same in 

 nesting habits and eggs. 



