Page:Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas.djvu/43

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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.


not for months. Thirty-four eggs average 1.17 by .88 ; extremes 1.30 by .95 and 1.05 by .80. The note is a deep, sonorous coo, frequently repeated, and heard at a great distance. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 47.)

156. * Zensedura carolinensis, (Linn. )

Although this species is found throughout the year, it is decidedly uncommon during the winter months ; probably not more than 5 per cent, or less remain at that season. One habit noticed here I have not seen mentioned before, — that of occasionally occupying old nests of the Great- tailed Grackle for their second brood.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24. — Sen- nett, B. Eio Grande, 47.)

157. * Chameepelia passerina, (Linn.)

Quite abundant, particularly in summer. The small and rather com- pact nests are placed on the horizontal branch of a stout bush or tree, and are lined with a few straws. On one occasion, I found the eggs in a roughly made nest on the ground on the edge of a prairie. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24..— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 48.)

158. *-53chmoptila albifrons.

Zenaida amabilis, McCall, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1851, 220 (between Mata- moras and Camargo).

"Leptoptila albifrons, Gray, List Spec. Brit. Mus. p. 15." — Bonap., Consp. II, 1855, 74.— Scl., P. Z. S. 1859, 363 (Jalapa) ; 1860, 289 (Babahoyo, Ecua- dor) ; 1864, 178 (City of Mexico) ; 1870, 838 (Honduras).— 8cl. & Salv., Ibis, 1859, 222 (DueSas, Guatemala); P.Z.S 1864,370 (Guatemala; I'a- nama) ; 186rt, 60 (Mexico; Guatemala); 1870,838 (coast of Honduras); Norn. Neotr. 1873, 133.— Lawk., Pr. Boston Soc. 1871, — (Tres Marias Islands, W. Mexico ; common. Vulg. : " Paloma "); Mem. Boston Soc. II, 1874, 305 (Mazatlan; Tres Maiias; habits); Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 44 (Isth. Tehuantepec. " Iris orange ; bill black ; bare or- bital space bluish ; feet carmine "). — Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. (Jlub, II, July, 1877, 82 (Hidalgo, Texas, April 18, 1877 ; not uncommon ; breeding).

jEchmoptila albifrons, Coues & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Terr. vol. iv, No. 1, 1878, 49 (Hidalgo, Texas).

Peristera albifrons, Bonap., Consp. II, 1855, 74 (Mexico ; " Cuba " ; " Colum- bia " ; "Carthagena")-— Gray, Hand-list, II, 1870, 242 (Mexico. Subg. Leptotila).

"Peristera brachyptera, Gray, MSS." (Sclater).

[A good description of this species having already been given by Dr. Coues in Mr. Sennett's paper, I give here only a list of references, mostly additional to those already published. — R. R.]

This Pigeon is not rare in the vicinity of Fort Brown, but is $hy and not very often seen. I can give nothing very definite in regard to its habits. The only nest I have found was taken on June 8, 1878, on the government, reservation. It was about seven feet from the ground, supported by the dense interlacing tendrils of a hanging vine growing on the edge of a thicket. The eggs, two in number, were quite fresh.