608 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SUEVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 
I am not aware whether there is any difference between the sexes of this species. It has been 
referred by Audubon to the Columba montana, L., but this appears to differ in lacking the white 
bridle along the cheeks, &c. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
2628 
1936 
Locality. 
Whence and how obtained. 
Nature of specimen. 
Key West, Florida 
S. F. Baird 
do 
S TARN GEN AS, Bonaparte. 
Starnoenas, Bonaparte, Geog. & Comp. List, 1838. Type Columba cyanocephala, L. 
Ch. — Bill short ; culmen about one-third the rest of head measured from the frontal feathers. Legs very stout and large ; tarsi 
bare on the entire tibial joint, and covered with hexagonal scales, largest anteriorly ; it is longer than the middle toe and claw. 
Inner lateral claw the larger ; reaching the base of the middle claw ; all the claws short, thick, and blunt. Hind toe and claw 
short, half the middle do.; wings short, broad, and concave ; much rounded. Tail short, broad, nearly even, but slightly vaulted. 
The single species of dove, composing the genus, in many respects resembles the partridges 
or quails, both in external appearance and in manners. 
STARNOENAS CYANOCEPHALA, Bon. 
Blue-headed Pigeon. 
Columba cyanocephala, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 282.— Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 778.— Wagler, Syst. Avium, 1827, 
Columba, No. 112.— Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 441 : V, 1839, 557 ; pi. 172. 
Starnoenas cyanocephala, Bonap. List, 1838.— Ib. Consp. II, 1854, 69.— Aud. Syn 1839, 193.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 
1842, 23 ; pi. 284.— Gundlach, Cab. Journ. IV, 1856, 108. 
Slernoenas cyanocephala, Reichenbach, Systema Av. 1851, p. xxv. pi. xxiii. — Ib. Icones Av. tab. 260 and 266. 
Geophilus? cyanocephala, Selby, Pigeons, Jard. Nat Lib. V, 216, pi. xxvii . 
Columba (Lophyrus) cyanocephala, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d. ed. 1840, 769. 
Columba letraoides, (Scopoli,) Gmelin, I, 772. 
Blue-headed turtle, Latham, Syn. II, n, 651. 
Sp. Ch. — Bill blue, the fleshy part at the base carmine. Iris brown, scales of feet carmine, the interspaces white. Above and 
on sides glossy dark olivaceous chocolate; beneath brownish red, lighter centrally. Chin and throat black, with a narrow 
border of white below. A white line begins in the chin and passes under the eye to the occiput. Sides of head above this and 
forehead black ; crown blue. Length, 10.70 ; wing, 5.40 ; tail, 4.35. 
Hub.— West India Islands ; occasionally at Key West, Florida, and other southern keys. 
The axillars and under surface of the wings are like the belly. The crissum is most like the 
back. The outer tail feathers have a bluish tinge above. 
The hind toe in this species is not strictly in the same plane with the others, but placed a 
little above their point of insertion. 
