ZENAIDA DOVE. 
471 
merous in species, that we cannot but wonder that it should 
still remain comparatively untouched by the reforming hand of 
our contemporaries ; especially seeing that as good reasons 
may be found for subdividing them as the parrots, and other 
large natural groups. We may indicate the differences exhi- 
bited in the form of the scales covering the tarsus, and the 
shape of the tail, &Co, as offering characters on which sections 
or genera could be founded. But as the species of the United 
States, which are those we are to treat of, are but few, we 
shall leave the promising task to any one whose researches 
may lead him to engage in it ; and shall only observe, that the 
two species described by Wilson, belong to a different group 
from the three we have since introduced into the Fauna of this 
country. Of these, the present beautiful dove is the only one 
hitherto undescribed. 
This new and charming little species inhabits the Florida 
keys with the preceding, but is much more rare. We have 
also received it from Cuba, and noticed a specimen in a collec- 
tion of skins sent from that island by Mr MacLeay, to the 
Zoological Society of London. They are fond of being on 
the ground, where they are most commonly observed dusting 
themselves, and seeking for the gravel, which, like the galli- 
naceous birds, they swallow to assist digestion. When flush- 
ed, they produce the same whistling noise with their wings as 
the common turtle-dove, Columha Carolinensis, 
The Zenaida dove measures ten inches in length. The bill 
is somewhat more robust than that of the common dove, but 
otherwise perfectly similar, less than an inch long, black, the 
corners of the mouth being lake ; the irides are dark brown, 
the pupil of the eye large, and the eye itself full, giving the 
whole bird a mild and pleasing expression ; the naked orbits 
are of a bluish grey. The whole plumage above is yellowish 
ashy brown, tinged with vinaceous on the crown, and paler on 
the sides of the head and neck ; under the ears is a small bright 
rich and deep violaceous spot, rivalling the amethyst in splen- 
dour ; and above this a similar smaller one, not very distin- 
