340 
CHA MJEPELI A. 
HABITS. 
Although the Zenaida Dove is a well-known bird on the Bahamas and in the West 
Indies, no one appears to have observed it among the Keys, excepting Audubon who found 
it quite common there. When on the Keys, I questioned the inhabitants concerning this 
Dove but they knew nothing about it, yet it may possibly occur as a rare visitor; but I did 
not see it nor did my assistants meet with it, therefore I can add nothing new relative to 
it. Audubon says that it spends the greater portion of its time on the ground and that its 
habits are not dissimilar to those of the Ground Dove. 
GENUS III. CIIAMiEPELIA. THE LITTLE DOVES. 
Gen. Ch. Size, very small, Bill, slender. Tail, short and rounded, not exceeding the wings inlength. Sternum, not 
wide. Feet, small. 
Members of this genus are very small, not very dull in color, with no conspicuous white markings anywhere. There 
is but one species within our limits. 
CHAMiEPELIA PASSERINA. 
Ground Dove. 
Chameepeliapasserina Swain, Zool. Jour., Ill; 1827, 358. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp.-Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, small. Sternum, not stout. Tongue, short, moderately thick and fleshy, fur¬ 
rowed above, but horny at tip which is provided with coarse cilia. Sexes, not similar. 
Color. Adult male. Top of head and occiput, bluish-a-h, with the edges of the feathers darker. Remainder of up¬ 
per portions, excepting secondaries and primaries, brownish-ash, while the outer wing coverts are edged with purplisb-red. 
There are roundedspotsof black, glossed with violet, on the the latter named, and oblique patches on the scapularies of the 
same color. The tail feathers are slightly tipped with white,and theentire terminal portion, excepting central pair, is pur¬ 
plish-black, which extends to the ba«e beneath. Wings, dark-brown, with the base beneath, under wing coverts, and in¬ 
ner webs, excepting tips, cinnamon-red. Forehead, sides of head and neck, and under portions, purplish-red, lighter on 
the throat, and becoming browner on the abdomen and under tail coverts, where the feathers are tipped with white. Part¬ 
ly concealed spots on the breast are dark-brown and the feathers of this part are very narrowly edged with dark purplish- 
red. • 
Adult female. Dilfers from the male in being paler above and below, while the blue of the head is overwashed with 
brownish. 
Nestlings. Are not unlike the adult but are duller and decidedly rufous beneath, especially on the abdomen. Iris, red, 
yellow, or red and yellow mixed, bill, yellow, black at tip, and feet, yellow, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Specimens are very uniform in color, and although skins from Key West are a little smaller in size, they do not ap¬ 
pear darker-than those from further north. Known by the small feize, rounded tail, and colors as described. Distributed, 
as a constant resident, throughout the Carolinas and southward. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of sixty specimens from Florida. Length, 7 - 00; stretch, 1P00; wing, 3*60; tail, 2 33; bill, '52; 
tarsus, - 65. Longest specimen, 7-50; greatest extent of wing, 11*50; longest wing, 3 80; tail, 2*60; bill, *58; tarsus, '80. 
Shortest specimen, 6'50; smallest extent of wing, 10'50; shortest wing, 3'40; tail, 2'05; bill, '45; tarsus, '52. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees or bushes or on the ground. They are rather elaborate structures, being composed of twigs and 
Weeds, lined with Spanish moss. 
Eggs , one or two in number, varying from elliptical to oval in form, pure white or creamy in color. Dimensions from 
'63 x '80 to '65x'90. 
