138 
PIGEONS 
The chachalaca comes into the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas, 
but probably does not range more than fifty miles north of the 
Mexican line. It keeps within the mesquite and chaparral, where 
it calls from the treetops at sunrise and sunset, pronouncing its 
local name, chachalac , in loud tones. Dr. Merrill says that it is 
much hunted for the Brownsville market. 
ORDER COLUMB^E: PIGEONS. 
FAMILY COLUMBIDiE: PIGEONS 
\ 
KEY TO GENERA. 
1. Tarsus shorter than side toes. 
2. Tail slightly rounded, feathers broad at tips Columba, p. 138. 
2'. Tail graduated, feathers narrow and pointed at tips. 
Ectopistes, p. 140. 
1. Tarsus longer than side toes. 
2. Wing less than 4. 
3. Tail equal to or longer than wing, narrowing to a point. 
Scardafella, p. 143. 
3'. Tail shorter than wing, wide at end . Columbigallina, p. 143. 
2'. Wing more than 5. 
3. Tip of outer quill abruptly narrowed . . . Leptotila, p. 141. 
3'. Tip of outer quill not abruptly narrowed. 
4. Tail feathers 12, tail rounded. Melopelia, p. 142. 
4'. Tail feathers 14, tail graduated .... Zenaidura, p. 140. 
GENUS COLUMBA. 
General Characters. — Tail much shorter than wing, slightly rounded, 
the feathers broad and rounded or nearly square at tip ; wings pointed; 
side toes of about equal length. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Tail banded. fasciata, p. 138. 
l'.Tail uniform slaty black. flavirostris, p. 140. 
312. Columba fasciata Say. Band-tailed Pigeon. 
Adult male. — End of tail with broad — two inch — band , pale gray, bor¬ 
dered above by black ; back of neck 
with white collar ad joined by iridescent 
bronzy patch spreading back as a 
greenish wash ; head and under parts 
purplish pink, fading to whitish on 
belly ; fore part of back tinged with 
brownish, hinder part bluish gray; wing quills blackish, coverts bluish 
gray, faintly edged with white. Adult female: like male but duller and 
much grayer; white nuchal band often obsolete, iridescent patch restricted, 
head grayish instead of pink, under parts largely grayish. Young : with¬ 
out white on nape, under parts dull grayish, tinged with brown on breast; 
upper parts with feathers more or less lightly bordered with paler; head 
and neck dull bluish gray in male, light grayish brown in female. Length: 
15-16, wing 8.00-8.80, tail 6.00-6.50. 
Fig. 207. 
