THE ZENAIDA DOVE. 13 



aviaries, so much so as to have induced him to let some loose. Should it 

 thrive in a wild state in England, it will form a valuable accession, as its 

 flesh is excellent. 



The branch on which I have represented these birds, belonged to a low 

 shrub abundant in the Keys where they are found. The flower has a musty 

 scent, and is of short duration. 



This species resorts to certain wells, which are said to have been dug by 

 pirates, at a remote period. There the Zenaida Doves and other birds are 

 sure to be seen morning and evening. The loose sand thrown up about 

 these wells suits them well to dust in, and clean their apparel. 



Coldmea Zenaida, Bonap. Syn., p. 119. 



Zenaida Dove, Colwmba Zenaida, Bonap. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 



Zenaida Dove, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 625. 



Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p, 354; vol. v. p. 558. 



Male, 111, 18^-. Female, 10|-. 



Florida Keys during summer only. Common. 



Adult Male. 



Bill short, straight, rather slender, compressed; upper mandible with a 

 tumid fleshy covering at the base, a convex, declinate, obtuse tip, of which 

 the margins are acute and overlapping; lower mandible, with the angle near 

 the extremity, which is compressed and rounded. Nostrils medial, oblique, 

 linear. Head small and compressed; the general form rather full. Legs 

 short and of moderate strength; tarsus short, covered anteriorly with four 

 broad scutella at the upper part, and a double series below, rounded and 

 hexagonally reticulated behind; toes scutellate above, free, margined; two 

 lateral toes nearly equal, middle one not much longer, hind toe much smaller. 



Plumage rather compact. Wings of moderate length, second and third 

 quills longest, first and fourth equal. Tail rather short, much rounded. 



Bill deep carmine-purple. Iris brown; bare space surrounding the eye 

 light blue. Feet deep carmine-purple. The general colour of the plumage 

 above is light yellowish-brown tinged with grey. Quills brownish-black, 

 narrowly margined with white, seven of the secondaries broadly tipped with 

 the same; the inner ones of the same colour as the back, but having a broad 

 black spot on the inner web towards the end, which is also the case with the 

 tertiaries; several of the coverts also have a black spot on the outer web. 

 The four lateral tail-feathers on each side are greyish-blue, with a broad 

 black bar towards the end, the extremity greyish-white, the four middle 

 feathers of the colour of the back, with a faint dusky bar. The sides of the 

 head and under parts are of a light brownish-red, paler on the throat, and 

 passing into greyish-blue on the sides; under wing-coverts pale bluish-grey. 



Vol. V, 3 



