are now considered of accidental occurrence in all but two or 

 three states. Capt. Charles Bendire ("Life Histories of North 

 American Birds") says: ''It now looks as if their total exter- 

 mination might be accomplished within the present century 

 (19th). The only thing that retards their total extinction is 

 that it no longer pays to net these birds, they being too scarce 

 for that now, at least in the more settled portion of the country : 

 and also, perhaps, from constant and unremitting persecution on 

 their breeding grounds, they have changed their habits somewhat, 

 the majority no longer breeding in colonies, but scattered over 

 the country and breeding in isolated pairs." 



The Mourning, Carolina, or American Turtle Dove, although 

 never as abundant as its larger cousin, the Passenger Pigeon, 

 has held its own better against the hand of man, principally on 

 account of its more solitary nature; as they breed more or less 

 in single pairs rather than in colonies. In Louisiana, at the 

 present time, these birds are fairly abundant in all sections 

 throughout the year, but especially after the migrants from the 

 north arrive for the winter, which is during the last of Sep- 

 tember and the first of October. In the vicinity of Cameron, 

 with but few exceptions, they are the most abundant of our 

 resident birds; and this might also be said of other portions of 

 the State. On that account, outside of their qualities as a 

 game bird, they may be considered, from an economic stand- 

 point, as of some value. 



Doves are exclusively grain and seed eaters, although occa- 

 sionally small insects are found in the crop ; and birds kept 

 by the writer have been seen eating ants, both large and small. 

 This same grain diet is fed to the young, in which respect they 

 differ from other seed-eating birds which feed their young almost 

 entirely on insects till they are able to leave the nest, and often 

 for some time after that. 



Just one instance of economic importance as insect, as well 

 as weed-seed destroyers, ma.y be given in a few notes on the 

 Nonpareil, Passerina ciris. This is a seed-eating bird in its 

 mature state, yet the young are fed exclusively on insects till 

 they are nearly two weeks old. At this time they would be able 

 to care for themselves, and in many cases do. The bill is, how- 

 ever, still soft and they are unable to get at the kernel of seeds, 

 which the adults do by cracking off the outside shell, and so the 



