10 
THE ZEN ATE A DOVE. 
at the spot in a state of mind which he only who compares the wretchedness 
of guilt within him with the happiness of former innocence, can truly feel. 
He said lie never left the place without increased fears of futurity, associated 
as he was, although I believe by force, with a band of the most desperate 
villains that ever annoyed the navigation of the Florida coasts. So deeply 
moved was he by the notes of any bird, and especially by those of a Dovei 
the only soothing sounds he ever heard during his life of horrors, that 
through these plaintive notes, and them alone, he was induced to escapo 
from his vessel, abandon his turbulent companions, and return to a family 
deploring his absence. After paying a parting visit to those wells, and 
listening once more to the cooings of the Zenaida Dove, he poured out his 
soul in supplications for mercy, and once more became what one has said 
to be “ the noblest work of God,” an honest man. His escape was effected 
amidst difficulties and dangers, but no danger seemed to him to be com- 
pared with the danger of one living in the violation of human and divine 
laws, and now lie lives in peace in the midst of his friends. 
The Zenaida Dove is a transient visiter of the Keys of East Florida. 
Some of the fishermen think that it may be met with there at all seasons, 
but my observations induce me to assert the contrary. It appears in the 
islands near Indian Key about the 15th of April, continues to increase in 
numbers until the month of October, and then returns to the West India 
Islands, whence it originally came. They begin to lay their eggs about 
the first of May. The males reach the Keys on which they breed before 
the females, and arc heard cooing as they ramble about in search of mates, 
more than a week before the latter make their appearance. In autumn, 
however, when they take their departure, males, females, and young set 
out in small parties together. 
The flight of this bird resembles that of the little Ground Dove more than 
any other. It very seldom flics higher than the tops of the mangroves, or to 
any considerable distance at a time, after it has made choice of an island to 
breed on. Indeed, this species may be called a Ground Dove, too ; for, 
although it alights on trees with case, and walks well on branches, itspends 
the greater portion of its time on the ground, walking and running in search 
of food with lightness and celerity, carrying its tail higher than even the 
Ground Dove, and invariably roosting there. The motions of its wings, 
although firm, produce none of the whistling sound, so distinctly heard in 
the flight of the Carolina Dove ; nor docs the male sail over the female while 
she is sitting on her eggs, as is the habit of that species. When crossing the 
sea, or going from one Key to another, they fly near the surface of the 
water; and, when unexpectedly startled from the ground, they remove to a 
short distance, and alight amongst the thickest grasses or in the heart of the 
