598 



U. S. p. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVETS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EEPORT. 



List of specimens. 



COLUMB A FLAVIEOSTEIS, W a g 1 e r . 



Red-billed Dove. 



Columbajiavirostria, Wagler, Isis, 1831, 519. — Lawrence, Annals N. T 

 Chloromas flamrostHs, Bonap. Consp. At. II, 1854, 52. 



? Columba solitaria, McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. Ill, July, 1847, 233. 

 referring probably to the female of this species. 



Lye. V, May, 1851, 116. 



Rio Grande, Texas. Description 



Sp. Oh. — Second and third quills equal, and decidedly longer than the first and fourth, also nearly equal. Tail truncate, 

 slightly rounded. Head and neck all round, breast, and a large patch on the middle and lesser wing coverts, light chocolate 

 red, the latter deeper and more opaque red ; the middle of the back, scapulars, and tertials olive ; the rest of body, wings, and 

 tail very dark slaty blue ; the inferior and concealed surfaces of the latter black. Bill and legs yellow in the dried skin, said to 

 be purple in life ; eyes purple. Length, 14 inches ; wing, 8 ; tail, 5.70. 



Hub. — Lower Rio Grande. 



There is no trace of any metallic scale-like feathers on the neck of this species. The wing 

 feathers, including the greater coverts, are whitish on their external border. There is a tinge 

 of the red on the inside of the wing. 



The Oolumba solitaria of McCall appears to he closely related to this species, but, judging 

 from the description, appears to differ in having the head and neck bluish rather than red. It 

 may possibly be the female of 0. flavirostris, as this sex usually has bluish instead of red ; the 

 smaller size, too', would favor this supposition.^ 



• Colwnba solitaria, McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. Ill, July, 1847, 233. " Length, 13 inches 9 lines, &c. Alar extent 23 

 inches. Wing, from the flexure, 7 inches 5 lines. Tarsus 1 inch ; middle toe 1 inch 2 lines ; first toe 9 lines, and longer than 

 the third ; nails light flesh color ; feet and legs deep red. Iris dark orange. Bill above, 1 inch 1 line, but feathered to within 5 

 lines of the tip ; reddish near the base, whitish near the tip . Head, chocolate blue. Throat, chocolate white. Neck and breast, 

 bluish chocolate with brilliant reflections. Back, belly, flanks, under wing coverts, and greater exterior wing coverts, light red 

 color, the last faintly bordered with white . Lesser wing coverts chocolate red', forming a bright shoulder spot of elliptical 

 shape . Quill feathers dusky, tinged with lead color on the outer vanes. Third primary longest. Upper and under tail covsrta 

 bluish lead color. Tail, 5 inches, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers dusky." 



