The PARTRIDGE DOVE (_Starnænas cyanocephala_), the most remarkable of
these birds, has a thick-set body, short wings, the slender, sabre-formed
quills of which are pointed at the extremity, the third and fourth
being longer than the rest, and a moderately long and rounded tail; the
high, broad, and very strong beak is vaulted at its culmen; the feet
are long, with thick tarsi and short fleshy toes, armed with large and
very decidedly hooked claws. The plumage is dense, and the cheek-stripes
bare, overspread with small, oval warts. A beautiful chocolate-brown
predominates in the coloration of the feathers, shading into reddish brown
on the mantle, and into rich deep red upon the breast. The crown of the
head and a few scale-like feathers on the throat are slate-blue; the face,
nape, and throat, black; the cheek-stripes, and a line on the lower part
of the throat, pure white; the wings dark brown, edged with reddish brown,
and shaded with deep grey on the lower side; the centre tail-feathers are
chocolate-brown, and those at the sides blackish brown. The eye is dark
brown; the beak bright coral-red at the base and greyish blue at the tip;
the foot is pale reddish white, with horny plates of deep carmine-red;
the toes are deep blueish red, and the skin between them sky-blue. This
species is twelve inches long and seventeen broad; the wing and tail each
measure five inches.
The island of Cuba must be considered as the native country of these
splendid birds, from whence they spread northwards to Florida, southwards
to Venezuela. They appear, according to Burmeister, to approach the upper
tracts of land near the river Amazon, but do not come farther southwards.
It is questionable if they are found in Jamaica. Gosse says, "The Spanish
Partridge Dove (_Cyanocephala_) is not considered as indigenous in
Jamaica, though it is frequently imported thither from Cuba." Audubon
met with several of them in Florida, and states that "A few of these
birds migrate each spring from the island of Cuba to the keys of Florida,
but are rarely seen, on account of the deep tangled woods in which they
live. Early in May, 1832, while on a shooting excursion, I saw a pair of
them on the western side of Key West. They were near the water, picking
gravel, but on our approaching them they ran back into the thickets, which
were only a few yards distant. Several fishermen and wreckers informed
us that they were more abundant on the Mule Keys, but although a large
party, including myself, searched these islands for a whole day, not one
did we discover there. I saw a pair which I was told had been caught when
young on the latter keys, but I could not obtain any other information
respecting them than that they were fed upon cracked corn and rice, which
answered the purpose well."
Grundlach tells us that the nest of the Partridge Dove is built of twigs
and placed amongst the parasitical plants that entwine themselves around
the branches of their favourite forest trees. We are without any reliable
information concerning the manner of incubation or the appearance of the
eggs.
* * * * *
The BRONZE-WINGED PIGEONS (_Phapes_) also pass a considerable portion of
their lives upon the ground, but, unlike the preceding, are furnished with
short tarsi and long toes. All are of comparatively large size, and most
species powerfully framed, though in some instances their length of tail
gives them a somewhat slender appearance. The beak is strong, the wings
generally long and pointed, and the tail composed of from fourteen to
sixteen feathers of various sizes. The variegated plumage is enlivened by
a strong metallic brilliancy. The members of this beautiful group inhabit
Oceania.