54 Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas. 
Mclopelia leucoptera (Linnseus). White-winged Dove. 
V ery common near Matamoras, Brownsville, and as far in 
Texas as the Sal Colorado, after which it becomes rare, and I 
never saw one further north or east than the Bio Nueces. It 
is not uncommon at Eagle Pass, where I saw many in cages at 
the huts of the Mexicans. 
Male. Bill purplish-black; iris bright orange; the bare space 
round the eye bright powder-blue; legs coral-red, with a tinge 
of lake. Stomach containing maize and caterpillars. 
Zenaidura carolinensis (Linnseus). Carolina Dove. 
Common and resident in every part of Mexico and Texas that 
I visited. I found many nests of this bird near San Antonio in 
June, all very slightly built of sticks, placed on the branch of 
a mezquite tree or bush, and containing two pure white eggs. 
I have, however, in two instances seen nests on the ground. I 
have also found this bird breeding very late in the year; indeed 
I saw a nest containing two fresh eggs, in a mezquite tree near 
Barton's Rancho, between San Antonio and Brownsville, on the 
7th of September, 1863. 
Cham^pelia passerina (Linnseus). Ground-Dove. 
During my stay at Matamoras I found this bird rather com¬ 
mon, and generally noticed them on the road between Mata¬ 
moras and Brownsville, as well as on a sand-plain close to Fort 
Brown, on the Texan side of the river. In the interior of Texas 
I never observed any, except in April 1864, when I saw one 
close to the Medina River, near San Antonio. 
Male (shot 11th July, 1863), Beak purplish-black; iris bright 
red; legs flesh-coloured. Stomach containing small seeds. 
Ortalida maccalli, Baird. Chiacalacca. 
This bird is very common near Matamoras and Brownsville; 
and in the autumn great numbers are exposed in the market for 
sale at the former place. The Mexicans hold the Chiacalacca 
in high esteem for its fighting-qualities, and often keep it in a 
domesticated state, and, crossing it, it is said, with the common 
fowl, use the mule birds for cock-fighting; indeed by many 
they are considered far superior to the pure-bred game-cocks*. 
* This statement I am aware will scarcely be received without hesita- 
