(SPOTTED DOVE.)
+Zenaida maculata+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 497; _Scl. et
Salv. Nomencl._ p. 132; _iid. P. Z. S._ 1868, p. 143 (Buenos
Ayres); _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 193 (Buenos Ayres); _Gibson,
Ibis_, 1880, p. 8 (Buenos Ayres); _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 626
(Catamarca); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 275 (Entrerios).
_Description._--Above pale brown; nape plumbeous; outer wing-coverts
and scapularies with a few black spots; wings dark grey, with fine
white margins; tail plumbeous, broadly ended with white, and crossed
by a subapical black band; middle rectrices like the back: beneath
pale vinaceous, brighter on the breast, and whiter on the throat;
bill black; feet yellow: whole length 9·0 inches, wing 5·5, tail
3·5. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ South America, from the Amazons to Chili and Buenos Ayres.
This is the commonest species of the Pigeon tribe in the Argentine
country, and is known to every one as the _Torcasa_, probably a
corruption of _Tortola_, Turtle-Dove. In autumn they often congregate
in very large flocks, and are sometimes observed migrating, flock
succeeding flock, all travelling in a northerly direction, and
continuing to pass for several consecutive days. But these autumnal
migrations are not witnessed every year, nor have I seen any
return-migration in spring; while the usual autumn and winter movements
are very irregular, and apparently depend altogether on the supply of
food. When the giant thistle has covered the plains in summer incredible
numbers of Torcasas appear later in the season, and usually spend the
winter on the plains, congregating every evening in countless myriads
wherever there are trees enough to form a suitable roosting-place.
On bright warm days in August, the sweet and sorrowful sob-like song
of this Dove, composed of five notes, is heard from every grove--a
pleasing, soft, murmuring sound, which causes one to experience by
anticipation the languid summer feeling in his veins.
The nest, as in other Pigeons, is a simple platform of slender sticks;
the eggs are oval, white, and two in number. The birds appear to breed
by preference near a human habitation, and do so probably for the sake
of the protection afforded them; for the Chimango and other birds of
prey destroy their eggs and young to a large extent.
One summer a Torcasa laid an egg in the nest of one of my Pigeons,
built on the large horizontal branch of a tree at some distance from
the dove-cote. The egg was hatched, and the young bird feared by its
foster-parents; and when able to fly it took up its abode along with the
other Pigeons. The following spring it began to separate itself from its
companions, and would fly to the porch, and sit there cooing by the hour
every day. At length it went away to the plantation, having, I believe,
found a mate, and we saw no more of it.