8 
PIGEON TRIBE. 
on the rocks of the Florida Keys, where it breeds in society 
and when first seen in the spring feeds principally upon the 
beech-plum and the berries of a kind of palm. From the 
peculiar selection of its breeding-places it is known in some of 
the West Indies, particularly Jamaica, St. Domingo, and Porto 
Rico, by the name of Rock Pigeon. It likewise abounds in 
the Piahama islands, and forms an important article of food to 
the inhabitants, — particularly the young birds as they become 
fully grown. 
According to Audubon, these birds arrive on the southern 
keys of the Floridas, from the island of Cuba, from the 20th 
of April to the ist of May, remaining to breed during the sum- 
mer season. They are at all times extremely shy and wary, 
remaining so indeed even while incubating, skipping from the 
nests and taking to wing without noise, and remaining off 
sometimes as much as half an hour at a time. In the month 
of May the young squabs are nearly able to fly, and are killed 
in great numbers by the wreckers who visit the keys. The 
nest is placed on the summit of a cactus shoot a few feet from 
the ground or on the upper branches of a mangrove, or quite 
low impending over the water; externally it is composed of 
small twigs, and lined with grass and fibrous roots. The eggs 
are two, white, rather roundish, and as large as those of the 
domestic Pigeon. This bird has apparently several broods in 
the season. His cooing may be heard to a considerable dis- 
tance ; after a kind of crowing prelude he repeats his koo koo 
koo. When suddenly approached, he utters a hollow guttural 
sound, like the Common Pigeon. White-crowned Pigeons are 
easily domesticated, and breed in that state freely, .‘\bout the 
beginning of October they are veiy' numerous, and then return 
to pass the winter in the West India islands. 
