BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
139 
This beautiful Dove is found throughout the Bahamas, but does 
not appear to be very abundant. It seems to be rather solitary in 
its habits, and is never met with in flocks. The nest is composed 
of small sticks, loosely put together. On May 27 I procured a nest 
which was placed in the crotch of a fallen tree about three feet from 
the ground. It contained two white eggs. 
Dr. Bryant says, “ It never collects in flocks, not breeding in 
communities like the C. leucocephala. In its habits it is intermediate 
between the Z. carolinensis and the C. passerina. It feeds and 
passes the principal part of its time on the ground, and when 
flushed, flies off in a straight line, very much as the common quail. 
The crops of those killed by me were filled with small seed about 
the size of mustard-seed, apparently all of the same kind. All the 
nests I saw were made in holes in the rocks, and consisted, as is 
always the case in this family, of but a few sticks. It probably 
migrates farther south during the winter, as it was much more 
abundant in May than at any previous time.” 
Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. V. pi. 281. 
CHA MJEPELIA PASSERINA. ( Linn ) 
Ground Dove. 
Local Name. — Tobacco Dove. 
Winter Plumage , Male. — Above, grayish olive, showing a bluish 
tinge upon the nape and crown ; under parts, reddish purple, becom- 
