clxxviii CoLTJMBtDa!. BIRDS. CoLUMCBiDa:. 
Passenger Pigeon, is found east of the great central 
ZENAIDA DOVE [Zenaida amabalis). — 'I’his Dove 
plains of North America, and not on the Pacific 
is found on the Florida Keys and the West Indies. 
Coast, fi’he immense flocks of these birds are a 
Audubon found them plentiful at Indian Key, on the 
never-failing source of surprise to the observer. 
Florida Reef, where, he says, they arrive about the 
Audubon speaks of their aerial evolutions as beau- 
middle of April, and remain until October, when 
tiful in the extreme, especially when a Hawk pressed 
they return to the AVest Indies. 'I'hese birds are 
upon the rear of a flock. All at once, like a torrent. 
like the Ground Doves in habit, spending most of the 
and with a noise like that of thunder, they rushed 
time on the ground. 'I’hey are extremely gentle. 
together into a compact mass, and darted forward in 
and so tame that they can be approached very closely 
undulating lines, descending and sweeping near the 
without exhibiting fear. 'I'heir notes are said to be 
earth with marvellous velocity, then mounting almost 
much like those of the Carolina Dove, but softer and 
perpendicularly in avast column, wheeling and twist- 
more tender. 'I'hey have been propagated easily in 
ing so that their continued lines seemed to resemble 
this country and in England. As a cage-bird it be- 
the coils of a gigantic serpent. During these manoeu- 
comes quite tame. Its color is, above, reddish- 
vres, the flapjiing of their many thousand wings causes 
olive, variously glossed with gray; the top of the 
a reverberation suggestive of distant thunder. Audu- 
head and the under parts, violet-])urplish-red, paler 
bon states that in Kentucky, on the Green River, 
on the chin and throat ; insides of wings and sides 
where the trees are of great magnitude, the Wild 
of body, blue ; bill, black ; feet, yellowish. Length, 
Pigeons came to roost, and occupied a space forty 
ten inches; wing, six; tail, four. 
miles in length and about three in width. It had 
CAROLINA DOVE [Zenaidura caroUnensis) . — Called 
been occupied by them about a fortnight when he 
also the Common Dove. Its locality is throughout 
visited it. 'I'he dung was several inches in depth, 
the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
covering the whole extent of the roosting-place. 
It is migratory in the Northern States, reaching 
Many trees two feet in diameter had been broken 
New England about the 1st of April. In some 
down by their weight, as well as many branches of 
parts of the country it becomes partially domesti- 
the tallest and largest trees. 'I'he forest seemed as 
cated. Its flight is rapid, and a peculiar whistling 
if it had been swept by a tornado. 'I'he Wild Pigeon 
sound is observable when it is heard flapping its 
mates in pairs, though living in vast companies. 
wings. In Louisiana it is called Ortolan. 'I'he 
'J’heir nests are composed of a few dry twigs laid 
Common Dove is twelve inches and a quarter long. 
crosswise on the branches of trees. Audubon saw 
Bill, black at the culmen ; iris of the eye, dark 
flCty to one hundred in the same tree. It occasion- 
brown. 
ally breeds in confinement, and is susceptible of par- 
SCALY DOVE [Scardafella inca). — 'I’his Dove in- 
tial domestication. Wilson says : “ Happening to go 
habits the Rio Grande Valley, Arizona and Guate- 
ashore, one charming afternoon, to imrchase some 
mala. 'I'here are tvvo species only of this genus, one 
milk at a house that stood near the river, and while 
belonging to South America. 'I'he Scaly Dove 
talking with the people within doors, I was suddenly 
breeds abundantly at Cape St. Lucas, the nest being 
struck with astonishment at a loud, rushing roar. 
constructed usually in a low tree or shrub. 
succeeded by instant darkness, which, on the first 
GROUND DOVE [Ghamcepelia passerina). — Com- 
moment, 1 took for a tornado about to overwhelm 
mon to the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts; rarely 
the house and everything around in destruction. 
as far north as AVashington. It is also found in 
'I’he people, obseiving my surprise, coolly said, ‘It’s 
Southern and Lower California and in the AVest In- 
only the Pigeons’; and, on running out, I beheld a 
dies, being confined mostly to the sea-coast. Audu- 
flock thirty or forty yards in width sweeping along 
bon describes this bird as having a low, easy flight. 
very low, between the house and the mountain. 
accompanied by a whistling sound similar to other 
'I’hese continued passing for more than a quarter of 
s[)ecies. It is usually met with in groups of 
an hour, and at length varied their bearing, so as to 
four or five, and seems to have a fondness for 
pass over the mountain, behind which they disap- 
alighting on fences, though it moves among the trees 
peared before the rear came up.” 'I'he Wild Pigeon 
and shrubbery easily. 'I’he ground is, however, its 
is sixteen inches long and twenty-four inches in ex- 
natural resort. In the vicinity of Charleston, S. C., 
tent. 
it is seen during the whole year. 'I'he length of 
WHITE- WINGED DOVE (Melopelia leucoptera).— 
the Ground Dove is six inches and a quarter. Bill, 
'I'his genus is represented by only one species. It 
yellow, black at the point ; iris of the eye, orange-red. 
is an inhabitant of the south-western parts of the 
KEY WEST PIGEON [Oreopeleia martiniea ). — 
States, extending to Arizona and Lower California. 
This bird was observed by Audubon, and he consid- 
'I'he general color is a fine ashy, with an olivaceous 
ered Key AVest its only locality in the United States. 
cast on upper surface, the middle tail feathers being 
It is common in the AA^’est Indies, and migrates to 
decidedly brownish ; occiput with a imrplish tinge; 
Key AVest in the spring or eaily summer. 'I’heir 
a spot of black with steel-blue reflection below the 
habits are similar to those of the Carolina Dove. 
ears ; a large patch of white on the wing. 'I'he male 
'They prefer dark, shady recesses of the forest, par- 
has faint purplish-golden reflections on the sides of 
ticularly near shady ponds. Since Audubon’s time 
the neck. 'I'his is a very common species in Jamaica, 
none of these birds have been found at Key AA^est, 
living generally in the lowlands. It is often kept in 
though, according to that eminent ornithologist, they 
confinement, and frequently breeds there. 
were at one time abundant there. 'I'he length is 
