28 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 65 



the deserts of Arizona, Baja California, the highlands of Mexico, 

 and the Pacific coast of South America, especially if breeding speci- 

 mens are compared. The summer (breeding) plumage shows the 

 greatest contrast between some of the subspecies as birds of arid, 

 rocky habitats show much more fading and wear of plumage than 

 those in more moist woodlands. The plumage of most white-winged 

 doves is darkest and richest in color when in fresh condition after the 

 postnuptial molt. Combinations of these environmentally related char- 

 acters of dimensions and plumage color are the basis for the differ- 

 ences found in the several races described in this paper. 



SUMMARY 



In a study of the distribution and taxonomy of the white-winged 

 dove, Zenaida asiatica, it was found that the subspecies Z. a. asiatica 

 of Texas and northeastern Mexico and Z. a. mearnsi of Arizona axe 

 strongly migratory. The former winters chiefly in Central America and 

 the latter in western Mexico. With the clarification of their ranges 

 and the study of breeding populations in Mexico and Central America 

 it became apparent that several undescribed races were resident in 

 these countries. Systematic collecting in many localities, the review 

 of museum specimens, and field studies of ecological differences 

 among populations indicated the presence of at least seven undescribed 

 subspecies which are described in this paper. 



These subspecies are Z. a. peninsiilae of the Yucatan peninsula, 

 Z. a. grandis of central western Texas, Z. a. monticola of the Mexican 

 highlands, Z. a. palustris of the central and southern Pacific coastal 

 plain of Mexico, Z. a. insularis of the Tres Marias Islands, Nayarit, 

 Mexico, Z. a. collina of Central America, chiefly on the Pacific pied- 

 mont and coastal plain from Chiapas, Mexico, to Costa Rica, and Z. a. 

 panamensis of the northeast coast of the Azuero peninsula, Panama. 

 Measurements of specimens, with figures presenting a statistical analysis 

 of these measurements, are given, together with a map showing the 

 breeding ranges. 



