WHITE-HEADED DOVE. 317 



we proceeded the more we saw, until we reached the low, sandy, sterile 

 keys, called the Tortugas, on none of which did I see a Pigeon of any kind. 

 During my visit to the Floridas, our party procured a great numher of 

 White-headed Pigeons. They were all either adult or full-plumed hirds, 

 having the upper part of the head pure white, with a deep rich brown edging 

 at the lateral parts of the crown. On our return from the Tortugas to Key 

 West, our vessel anchored close to a small key, in a snug harbour protected 

 from the sea winds by several long and narrow islands well known to the 

 navigators of those seas. Captain Day and myself visited this little key, 

 which was not much more than an acre in extent, the same afternoon. No 

 sooner had we landed, than, to our delight, we saw a great number of White- 

 headed Pigeons rise, fly round the key several times, and all realight upon 

 it. The Captain posted himself at one end of the key, I at the other, while 

 the sailors walked about to raise the birds. In less than two hours we shot 

 thirty-six of them, mostly on the wing. Their attachment to this islet 

 resulted from their having nests with eggs on it. Along with them we 

 found Grakles, Red-winged Starlings, Flycatchers, and a few Zenaida Doves. 

 Having shot most of the Pigeons, examined their nests, collected their eggs, 

 and written memoranda, we proceeded to other keys in search of other 

 species. 



The next morning we thought of calling at this little key on our way, 

 and were surprised to find that many new comers had arrived there before 

 us. They were, however, very shy, and we procured only seventeen in all. 

 I felt convinced that this spot was a favourite place of resort to these birds. 

 It being detached from all other keys, furnished with rank herbaceous plants, 

 cactuses, and low shrubs, and guarded by a thick hedge of mangroves, no 

 place could be better adapted for breeding; and, at each visit we paid it, 

 White-headed Pigeons were procured. Allow me here, kind reader, to tell 

 you that the number of that strange species of crabs called soldiers was so 

 great, that our game could not be suffered to lie a few minutes on the ground 

 without being either much mangled or carried into their subterranean 

 retreats; so that, with all our care, we were actually deprived by them of 

 several birds which we had shot. These curious crabs, which belong to the 

 genus Pagurus, crawl up the trees, and no doubt often destroy the eggs or 

 young of the Pigeons. 



The principal difference between Pigeons and Doves, as to their habits, is, 

 according to my observation, that the former generally build their nests close 

 together on the same trees, which the latter never do. For this reason I 

 place the present species among the Doves. 



The nest is placed high or low, according to circumstances; but there are 

 never two on the same tree. I have found it on the top shoots of a cactus, 



