410 GROUND DOVE. 
The Dove, generally speaking, has long been c msidere¢ as the fa- 
vorite emblem of peace and innocence, probably from the respectful 
manner in which its name is mentioned -in various parts of Scripture ; 
its being selected from among all the birds, by Noah, to asvertain the 
state of the deluge, and returning to the ark, bearing the olive leaf, 
as a messenger of peace and good tidings; the Holy Ghost, it is 
also said, was seen to descend like a Dove from heaven, &c. In 
addition to these, there is in the Dove an appearance of meekness and 
innocency very interesting, and well calculated to secure our partiality 
in its favor. These remarks are applicable to the whole genus; but 
are more particularly so to the species now before us, as being among 
the least, the most delicate, and inoffensive of the whole. : 
The Ground Dove is six inches and a quarter long; bill, yellow, 
black at the point; nostril, covered witha prominent membrane, as is 
usual with the genus; iris of the eye, orange red; front, throat, 
breast, and sides of the neck, pale vinaceous purple; the feathers, 
strongly defined by semicircular outlines, those on the throat, centered 
with dusky blue; crown and hind head, a fine pale blue, intermixed 
with purple, the plumage, like that on the throat, strongly defined ; 
back, cinereous brown, the scapulars deeply tinged with pale purple, 
and marked with detached drops of glossy blue, reflecting tints of pur- 
ple; belly, pale vinaceous brown, becoming dark cinereous towards 
the vent, where the feathers are bordered with white; wing-quills, 
dusky outwardly, and at the tips; lower sides, and whole interior 
vanes, a fine red chestnut, which shows itself a little below their cov- 
erts; tail, rounded, donsisting of twelve feathers, the two middle ones 
cinereous brown, the rest black, tipped and edged with white; legs 
and feet, yellow. 
The female has the back and tail-coverts of a mouse color, with lit- 
tle or none of the vinaceous tint on the breast and throat, nor any of 
the light blue on the hind head; the throat is speckled with dull 
white, pale clay color, and dusky; sides of the neck, the same, the 
plumage strongly defined ;. breast, cinereous brown, slightly tinctured 
with purple ; scapulars, marked with large drops of a dark purplish 
blood color, reflecting tints of blue; rest of the plumage, nearly the 
‘same as that of the male. 
