636 
PIGEON TRIBE. 
The Ground Dove is an inhabitant of all the states of 
the Union south of Virginia, and is met with also in the 
West Indies. They are common in the sea islands of 
the Southern States, particularly in South Carolina and 
Georgia, where they are seen in small flocks of from 15 
to 20. They are found usually upon the ground, and 
prefer the open fields and cultivated tracts to the woods ; 
their flight is seldom protracted, as they fly out commonly 
only to short distances ; though on the approach of win- 
ter they retire to the islands and milder parts of the 
continent, arriving again at their northern resorts early 
in April. Like some other species they have a fre- 
quent jetting motion with the tail, and the usual tender 
cooing and gesticulations of the tribe. They feed on 
various seeds and berries, particularly on those of the 
tooth-ache tree, near which they are frequently seen 
in the season. They likewise feed on rice and other 
small grain, and become easily tamed and reconciled to 
the cage ; in this way they are also occasionally fattened 
for the table, and are particularly esteemed by the French 
planters. 
This species is inches long. Front, throat, breast, and sides of 
the neck, pale vinaceous purple ; crown and hind-head pale blue, 
blended with purple. Back cinereous brown, scapulars tinged with 
pale purple and marked with oblong spots of glossy blue, reflecting 
tints of purple. Belly pale vinaceous brown, inclining to cinereous 
near the vent. Quills dusky, the inner vanes ferruginous. Tail 
rounded, the 2 middle feathers cinereous brown, the rest black, tipt 
and edged with white. Legs and feet yellow. Bill yellow, black at 
tip. Iris orange red. — In the female the back and tail-coverts are 
nearly of a plain mouse-color. The throat speckled with dull white, 
dusky, and muddy yellowish white ; the spots on the scapulars dark 
purplish blood-color, reflecting tints of blue. 
