304 
COLUMBA PASSERINA. 
SUBGENUS II GOURA, STEPHENS. 
189 . COLDirjlA PASSXltJyA, EINN. and WILS GROUND dots- 
WILSON, PLATE XLVI. FlU. II. MALE. — PIO. III. PE.MALE. 
KUl.MiUULII COLLEGE .MUSEU.M. 
The ground dove, one of the least of the pigef 
tribe, is a native of North and South Carolina, Georg'^ 
the iieiv State of Louisiana, Florida, and the islands Ji' 
the West Indies. In the latter, it is frequently kept i® 
cages ; is esteemed excellent for the table, and hononre® 
by tlie French planters n-ith the name of ortol®®;. 
They arc numerous in the sea Lslands, on the coast 
Carolina, and Georgia ; fly in flocks or coveys of liftec® 
or twenty ; seldom visit tlie woods, jireferring opP® 
fields and plantations; are almost constantly on tb® 
ground, and, when disturbed, fly to a short distant®' 
and again alight. They have a frequent jetting inotm® 
with the tail ; feed on rice, various seeds and berrie®' 
particularly those of the toothache tree,* under or neat 
which, in the proper season, they are almost sure to b® 
found. Of their nest, or manner of breeding, I s'® 
unable to give any account. 
These birds seem to be confined to the districts lyi®Si 
south of Virginia. They are plenty on the upper pat'*® 
of Cape Fear river, and in the interior of Carolina an® 
Georgia ; but I have never met with them, either '® 
Maryland, Delaware, or Peniusylvania. They nevct 
congregate in such multitudes as the common tvh® 
pigeon ; or even as the Carolina pigeon, or turtle dov® » 
but, like the partridge or quail, frequent the open field® 
in small coveys. They arc easily tamed, have a la®'’ 
tender, cooing note, accompanied with the usual g®®^'” 
dilations of their tribe. 
The ground dove is a bird of passage, retiring to tb® 
islands, and to the more southerly parts of the continent 
on the approach of w inter, and returning to its fori®®^ 
haunts early in April. It is of a more slender a® 
♦ Xanthoxylum clava HeTculia. 
