Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/450

424 deference to the authority given, that these must have been escaped "Blue Rocks" from dovecotes in the islands.

Zenaidura carolinensis, Carolina Dove.—Specimens are recorded in 'The Naturalist in Bermuda.' One was shot by Capt. Harvey on March 20th, 1850; and another was taken alive at Spanish Point on October 30th, 1854. I saw one at the Sand Hills on November 5th, 1874. A small flock frequented the fields near Whale Bay all through the winter of 1874–5, and specimens were obtained, one by Lieut. Hussey, R.E., on February 11th, 1875. I hear from Lieut. Denison that two have been seen as late as June 20th last. Can they have remained to breed? These pretty birds are fond of associating with the next species, feeding with them on the newly-turned fields—conspicuous when the flock is disturbed by their larger size and long tails. Their flight is very strong and rapid.

Chamæpelia passerina, Ground Dove.—Resident and abundant. It nests twice, laying two white eggs, ·85 in. by ·64 in., in a small, flimsy construction of twigs and cedar bark, generally placed on the bushy horizontal bough of a cedar tree, from eight feet to twenty feet above the ground. The earliest eggs I saw were on April 4th, the latest on June 27th; but there are instances of its breeding even in the winter months. When disturbed from its nest it falls like a stone to the ground, where it commences to flutter about, as if in the agonies of death, to deceive the intruder. Should the latter be taken in by the good acting of the poor little bird, and attempt to seize her, she shuffles away along the ground just out of reach, further and further from her nest, and, when she thinks her home is safe, away she dashes into the trees with a joyful "whir-r-r-r" of relief. My terrier used to be completely "sold" in this way, and had many an exciting but fruitless chase after the little doves. The "coloured" people have an absurd superstition about this bird, and say that when it utters its "coo-oop" (this is an extraordinarily loud and so oroussonorous? [sic] call for so small a bird, and can be heard a long distance), it is scratching up the ground for somebody's grave! The habits and mode of feeding of the species are loo well known to need description. The male is larger, and has the sides of the neck and the under parts of a much warmer purplish red than the female.