54 



BULLETIN 326, U. 



S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in the tall trees fringing small streams at the foot of the mountain, while 

 some were found in the dense swampy forests near Punta Picua, beyond 

 Mam eyes. 



It is commonly believed in Porto Rico that the scaled pigeon is found there 

 only as a migrant. This belief, fostered mainly by gunners who desire an open 

 season covering the entire year, is erroneous, as was proven on March 8, when 

 on El Tunque three nests were found without special search, while there was 

 no doubt whatever that the dozens of birds flushing on every hand were breed- 

 ing birds. The three nests located were about 15 feet from the ground on hori- 

 zontal limbs, or on refuse piled on large air plants, and were made of sticks 

 loosely piled together. Two were empty, while one contained a single white 

 egg of about five days' incubation. At Maricao on June 1 a native brought in 

 a young bird about two-thirds grown, and said it was the only one in the nest. 

 Gundlach (1878, p. 344) says that the birds lay two eggs, but from these in- 

 stances it would seem that a single egg in a set is not unusual. 



Scaled pigeons are said to occur in fall in large flocks and to gather in great 

 numbers where certain fruits are ripening, and at that time many are killed. 

 There is, however, apparently some migration between the various Antillean 

 islands, as the number of birds on Desecheo Island, for example, is said to vary 

 greatly from one season to another. 



Food. — Wild berries and fruits with an occasional succulent leaf or other 

 bit of herbage make up the entire fare of this pigeon. Ten stomachs reveal 

 vegetable matter only. The berries of various palms are favorite foods and 

 wild figs when in fruit draw large numbers of birds. The moral (Cordia sp.) 

 and jagua (Genipa americana) are eaten extensively and one bird had taken 

 quantities of a wild legume. All of the smaller wild fruits in season appear to 

 furnish food, and these are so abundant that cultivated fields are not molested. 

 The fruits eaten, though sometimes of comparatively large size and with hard 

 stony pits, are swallowed entire. The strong muscular gizzard of the bird 

 has a tremendous triturating power, however, and the fruits are easily crushed 

 and the meaty centers opened to the processes of digestion. 



The paloma turca is the one game bird of importance in the inland region, 

 because of its large size and universal distribution. Hunting it may be con- 

 sidered true sport, as the birds are wary, strong of wing, and can be pursued 

 successfully only in the wildest, roughest country. It should be encouraged 

 by every means possible, most of all by a close season extending from Feb- 

 ruary 1 to October 15, to allow ample time for rearing the young. In addi- 

 tion there should be a bag limit of not more than 10 birds for one day. 



The following were identified in the stomachs examined : 



Palma de Sierra (Acrista monticola). 



Palmo (Coccothrinax sp.) 



Wild fig (Ficus crassinervia) 



Wild fig (Ficus laevigata) 



Fabacese sp . 



Guaraguou (Trichilia sp.) 



Lauraceae sp 



Storax (Styrax portoriceyisis) . 



Nightshade [Solatium sp.) 



Moral (Cordia sp.) 



Jagua (Genipa americana) 



[RIXG-TAIL. PIGEO\. CMorcenas caribcea (Jacquin). 

 Paloma. 



Ledru (1810, p. 208) speaks of the ring-tail pigeon and Wagler 1 includes Porto Rico in 

 its range. Gosse 2 . says that Maug£, the zoologist who accompanied Ledru, found the 

 species in flocks of many hundreds. It may have occurred formerly in Porto Rico, but no 

 specimens are knovrn at present, and as the old records are rather doubtful the species 

 must be considered hypothetical.] 



1 Sy sterna Avium 1827, p. 46. 



2 Birds of Jamaica, 1847, p. 296. 



