THE KEY WEST PIGEON, OR DOVE. 17 



for the purpose of cleansing itself in the shelly sand that surrounds the 

 island; but the instant it perceives danger it flies off to the woods, throws 

 itself into the thickest part of them, alights on the ground, and runs off with 

 rapidity until it thinks itself secure. The jetting motions of its tail are 

 much like those of the Carolina Dove, and it moves its neck to and fro, 

 forward and* backward, as Pigeons are wont to do. 



The cooing of this species is not so soft or prolonged as that of the 

 Common Dove, or of the Zenaida Dove, and yet not so emphatical as that 

 of any true Pigeon with which I am acquainted. It may be imitated by 

 pronouncing the following syllables: — Whoe-iuhoe-oh-oh-oh. When sud- 

 denly approached by man, it emits a guttural gasping-like sound, somewhat 

 in the manner of the Common Tame Pigeon on such an occasion. They 

 alight on the lower branches of shrubby trees, and delight in the neigh- 

 bourhood of shady ponds, but always inhabit, by preference, the darkest 

 solitudes. 



The nest of the Key West Pigeon is formed of light dry twigs, and much 

 resembles in shape that of the Carolina Dove. Sometimes you find it 

 situated on the ground, when less preparation is used. Some nests are 

 placed on the large branches of trees quite low, while others are fixed on 

 slender twigs. On the 20th May, one of these nests was found containing 

 two pure white eggs, about the size of those of the White-headed Pigeon, 

 nearly round, and so transparent that I could see the yolk by holding them 

 to the light. How long incubation continues, or if they raise more than one 

 brood in a season, I am unable to say. 



Towards the middle of July they become sufficiently abundant at Key 

 West to enable sportsmen to shoot as many as a score in a day; for, as soon 

 as the young are able to follow their parents, they frequently resort to the 

 roads to dust themselves, and are then easily approached. Dr. Strobel 

 told me he had procured more than a dozen of these birds in the course of a 

 morning, and assured me that they were excellent eating. 



Their food consists of berries and seeds of different plants, and when the 

 sea-grape is ripe, they feed greedily upon it. They all depart for Cuba, or 

 the other West India Islands, about the middle of October. 



Until my arrival at Key West, this species was supposed to be the 

 Zenaida Dove. The young, when fully feathered, are of a dark-grey colour 

 above, lighter below, the bill and legs of a deep leaden hue. I am inclined 

 to believe that they attain their full beauty of plumage the following spring. 



So much are these birds confined to the interior of the undergrowth, that 

 their loves are entirely prosecuted there; nor do they on such occasions 

 elevate themselves in the air, as is the manner of the Carolina Dove. 



