GROUND DOVE. 263 
blue ; back, scapulars and lesser wing-coverts ashy brown ; tertials 
spotted with black ; primaries edged and tipped with white ; forehead, 
sides of the neck and breast, a pale brown vinous orange ; under the 
ear feathers a spot or drop of deep black ; immediately below which the 
plumage reflects the most vivid tints of green, gold and crimson ; chin 
pale yellow ochre ; belly and vent whitish ; legs and feet coral red, 
seamed with white ; the tail is long and cuneiform, consisting of four- 
teen feathers ; the four exterior ones on each side are marked with black 
about an inch from the tips, and white thence to the extremity ; the 
next has less of the white at the tip ; these gradually lengthen to the 
four middle ones, which are wholly dark slate ; all of them taper towards 
the points, the two middle ones most so. 
The female is an inch shorter, and is otherwise only distinguished by 
the less brilliancy of her color ; she also wants the rich silky blue on the 
crown, and much of the splendor of the neck ; the tail is also somewhat 
shorter, and the white with which it is marked less pure. 
Species III. COLUMBA PASSERINA. 
GROUND DOVE. 
[Plate XLVI. Fig. 2, Male.— Fig. 3, Female.] 
Linn. Si/st. 2S5. — Sloan. Jam. n., 305. — Le Cocotzin, Fernandez, 24. — Buff, ii., 
559, PI. Enl 241.— La petite Tourterclle, Briss. r., 113.— Turt. Si/st. 478.— 
Columbaminuta, Ibid. p. 479.*— Aret. Zovl. p. 328, No. 191.— Catesb. i., 2G.f 
This is one of the least of the Pigeon tribe, whose timid and inno- 
cent appearance forms a very striking contrast to the ferocity of the 
Bird-killer of the same plate. Such as they are in nature, such I have 
endeavored faithfully to represent them. I have been the more par- 
ticular with this minute species, as no correct figure of it exists in any 
former work with which I am acquainted. 
The Ground Dove is a native of North and South Carolina, Georgia, 
the new state of Louisiana, Florida, and the islands of the West Indies. 
In the latter it is frequently kept in cages ; is esteemed excellent for 
the table, and honored by the French planters with the name of Ortolan. 
They are numerous in the sea islands on the coast of Carolina and 
Georgia ; fly in flocks or coveys of fifteen or twenty ; seldom visit the 
* Prince Musignano considers this synonyme is incorrect. 
t Columba Passerina, Lath. Lid. Orn. p. 611, No. C7, C. minuta, Id. p. 612, 
No. 68. 
