_Peristera Jamaicensis._
_Columba Jamaicensis_, +Linn.+
_Columba rufaxilla_, +Rich.+ et +Bern.+
_Columba frontalis_, +Temm.+ Pig. 10.
[91] Length 12³⁄₄ inches, expanse 18³⁄₄, flexure 6¹⁄₄, tail
4¹⁄₂, rictus 1, tarsus 1⁵⁄₁₀, middle toe 1²⁄₁₀, outer and inner
toes ⁹⁄₁₀. Intestine 30 inches; no cæca. Irides whitish, with a
granulated appearance, reddish at the outer edge. Feet crimson.
Beak black. Forehead pure white, becoming slate blue on crown;
hind-head delicate grey-blue; neck reddish brown, changing to
amethyst, the lowest feathers brilliant green and purple. Back,
wing-coverts, and uropygials dusky-brown, with slight reflexions.
Wing-quills deep brown, the outer edge narrowly white, the basal
part of inner webs, chestnut; true tail-feathers blue grey, with
white tips. Under parts pure white, tinged with flesh colour on
breast: inner surface of wings chestnut. Eyelids bluish, the edges
and angles dark lake.
This lovely Pigeon is chiefly confined to the upland districts; where
its loud and plaintive cooing makes the woods resound. The negroes
delight to ascribe imaginary words to the voices of birds, and indeed
for the cooings of many of the pigeons, this requires no great stretch
of imagination. The beautiful Whitebelly complains all day, in the
sunshine as well as the storm, “Rain-come-wet-me-through!” each
syllable uttered with a sobbing separateness, and the last prolonged
with such a melancholy fall, as if the poor bird were in the extremity
of suffering. But it is the note of health, of joy, of love; the
utterance of exuberant animal happiness; a portion of that universal
song wherewith “every thing that hath breath may praise the Lord.”
The plumage, as usual in this family, is very soft and smooth, the
expression of the countenance most engagingly meek and gentle. And it
is a gentle bird: I have taken one into my hand, when just caught in
a springe, full grown and in its native wildness; and it has nestled
comfortably down, and permitted its pretty head and neck to be stroked,
without an effort to escape, without a flutter of its wings.
This is one of those species which habitually live on the ground: in
unfrequented woods, as well those which are open, as those which are
choked with underwood, the Whitebelly walks about singly or in pairs
picking up various seeds. About Content, a densely wooded mountain
side, it is very numerous in June and July, feeding on sop-seeds, and
many are taken in springes. The physic-nut forms a large portion of its
food; as well as orange-pips; and fragments of the large seeds of the
mango, chewed by hogs. Its flesh is generally esteemed; it is white,
juicy, and well-flavoured, without being liable to bitterness.
As it walks to and fro, it frequently flirts the head and tail, but not
so markedly as the Pea-dove. If flushed, it betakes itself to a low
tree not far off, whence, if unmolested, it is soon down again. Often
when seen in the woods, it runs a few yards, and then rises to fly, but
as if trusting less to its powers of flight than to those of running,
alights again immediately, and runs swiftly off among the bushes. It
has no regular roosting-place, often spending the night on a stone,
or a log, or a low bush that happens to be near the spot where it was
feeding at nightfall. This is not the case with the other Doves.
The aspect and air of the Whitebelly are unlike those of its kindred.
Its round head, the prevalence of light hues, and its height upon the
legs, contribute to this peculiarity. Essentially a ground-pigeon, its
length of tarsus enables it to run with ease and celerity; perhaps more
rapidly than any other of the family.
Unlike the tree-doves, the Whitebelly usually builds in rather a
low situation; often a logwood, a favourite tree with this, and the
Whitewing. If in the large woods, one of moderate height is chosen.
The nest consists of a few loose sticks, with some leaves in the
centre; the eggs are white.