92 PIGEON. 



blackish tip; irides orange; upper parts of the head and neck ash- 

 colour; back, rump, and upper tail coverts, the same, but deeper; 

 the forehead, throat, fore part of the neck, breast, sides, belly, and 

 under tail coverts, vinaceous, spotted with brown on the fore part 

 of the neck and breast ; the middle of each feather being of that 

 colour; some of the wing coverts deep ash-colour, others vinaceous, 

 marked with glossy green, or purplish spots, beneath rufous ; quills 

 rufous, edges and tips blackish ; the two middle tail feathers deep 

 ash-colour, the others blackish ; the exterior one white on the 

 margin, round the end ; legs red. The female differs in being more 

 pale, and the spots on the wings inclined to blood-colour. 



Inhabits the warmer parts of America, and contiguous Islands, 

 chiefly between the Tropics. Sloane mentions, that these birds feed 

 on the ground as Partridges, and spring as they do, taking a short 

 flight, and again alighting on the ground ; are often seen many 

 together, and accounted very good meat : chiefly found in all the 

 plains of the Island, and feed on the grain, and seeds of vegetables; 

 often taken in clavanies, or traps made of reeds, baited with the seeds 

 of the Wild Cassada :* is also common at Mexico, where it inhabits 

 mountainous places. Bancroft says, that it is the only Dove met 

 with in Guiana. Jacquin tells us, that it is plentiful in all the 

 Caribbee Islands, under the bushes : the French call it Ortolan ; the 

 English, Ground Dove ; the Dutch, Steen Duifje; and the Spaniards, 

 Palemito. The voice is plaintive and weak, very like that of the 

 Common Turtle. 



At Carthagena are some Varieties, larger than others, having 

 few brown spots, and the belly not scalloped ; and others with the 

 belly scalloped, yet in a different manner. Is said to propagate in 

 a state of domesticity, having been tried at Vienna. It is sometimes 

 found as far as North Carolina, but not beyond. Mr. Abbot informs 

 me, that it is very rare in Georgia, only one having been killed in 

 Burke Country, in his remembrance. 



* Jatropha elastica. 



