THE ZEN AIDA DOVE. 
13 
aviaries, so much so as to have induced him to let some loose. Should it 
thrive in a wild state in England, it will form a valuable accession, as its 
flesh is excellent. 
The branch on which I have represented these birds, belonged to a low- 
shrub abundant in the Keys where they are found. The flower has a musty 
scent, and is of short duration. 
This species resorts to certain wells, which are said to have been dug by 
pirates, at a remote period. There the Zenaida Doves and other birds are 
sure to be seen morning and evening. The loose sand thrown up about 
these wells suits them well to dust in, and clean their apparel. 
Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Syn., p. 119. 
Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida , Bonap. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. 
Zenaida Dove, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 625. 
Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 354; vol. v. p. 558. 
Male, 11£, 18-J. Female, 10§. 
Florida Keys during summer only. Common. 
Adult Male. 
Bill short, straight, rather slender, compressed ; upper mandible with a 
tumid fleshy covering at the base, a convex, decimate, obtuse tip, of which 
the margins are acute and overlapping ; lower mandible, with the angle near 
the extremity, which is compressed and rounded. Nostrils medial, oblique, 
linear. Head small and compressed ; the general form rather full. Legs 
short and of moderate strength ; tarsus short, covered anteriorly with four 
broad scutella at the upper part, aud a double series below, rounded and 
hexagonally reticulated behind ; toes scutellatc above, free, margined ; two 
lateral toes nearly equal, middle one not much longer, hind too much smaller. 
Plumage rather compact. Wings of moderate length, second and third 
quills longest, first and fourth equal. Tail rather short, much rounded. 
Bill deep carmine-purple. Iris brown ; bare space surrounding the eye 
light blue. Feet deep carmine-purple. The general colour of the plumage 
above is light yellowish-brown tinged with grey. Quills brownish-black, 
narrowly margined with white, seven of the secondaries broadly tipped with 
the same ; the inner ones of the same colour as the back, but having a broad 
black spot on the inner web towards the end, which is also the case with the 
tertiaries ; several of the coverts also have a black spot on the outer web. 
The four lateral tail-feathers on each side are greyish-blue, with a broad 
black bar towards the end, the extremity greyish-white, the four middle 
feathers of the colour of the back, with a faint dusky bar. The sides of the 
head and under parts are of a light brownish-red, paler on the throat, and 
passing into greyish-blue on the sides ; under wing-coverts pale bluish 
