GEOTRYGON MART1NICA. 
341 
HABITS. 
On my trip south during the winter of 1876-77, I did not find the Ground Doves at 
all until I arrived in South Carolina, and here they were quite common on the cotton plan¬ 
tations of the Sea Islands. This point is about their northern range, for they are not mi¬ 
gratory but are abundant below this section as far as Key West. In habit, these little 
Doves resemble Quail for they spend the greater portion of their time upon the ground, 
and usually associate in small flocks, feeding upon the seeds of weeds and grass. If start¬ 
led at such times, they rise with a whistling noise of the wings and conceal themselves 
in the nearest thicket from which it is difficult to dislodge them; then, when forced to leave 
this place of refuge, they will instantly dart into the first available patch of shrubbery. 
They .appear to be general favorites with all classes and even the negroes seldom shoot the 
Mourning Doves, as they call them; consequently the birds become quite tame, often fre¬ 
quenting the streets and gardens of the towns. 
They breed rather late and I did not find the eggs until the first week in May in Flor¬ 
ida. I have always found the nests in orange groves which appear to be the chosen resorts 
of these pretty, little Doves. The neat domiciles are placed in the lower limbs of trees, 
and when approached, the female will quickly slip off her eggs and feign lameness, behav¬ 
ing just as I have seen the Bay-winged Bunting or other Sparrows do under similar circum¬ 
stances. The male will also fly round and round the place,' becoming quite excited but 
never approaching very near; both birds, however, evince much more solicitude for their 
eggs than is usually manifested by Pigeons. 
Like all members of the order, the Ground Doves are very tenacious of life, and as the 
feathers become loosened very easily, it is difficult to secure perfect specimens, especially 
as the birds often lose a large portion of their plumage in struggling if not killed outright. 
The collector is, therefore, obliged .to exercise great care when handling a wounded bird or 
he will find himself surrounded by a small cloud of feathers which come from the bird when 
it is held too tightly. 
The coo of the Ground Doves is particularly mournful and is given by the males when 
courting the females, which they do by strutting before them, bowing the head, and puffing 
■ out their feathers. These Doves occur much more abundantly on the sea-shore than in 
the inteYior but they are also found some distance from the coast. 
GENUS IV. GEOTRYGON. THE GROUND DOVES. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, weak, long, and slender. Tail, rather short and well rounded. Wings, not pointed. Tarsus, quite 
short and stout. 
Members of this genus are of medium size and of rather dull colors but often have prominent white markings on the 
head. There is but one species within our limits. 
GEOTRYGON MARTINICA. 
Key West Dove. 
Geotrygon marlinica Bon., Consp. Av. II; 1854, 74. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Tail, short and slightly graduated, while the feathers are broad, as 
are also those of the wings. 
