North American Birds Eggs. 



149 



3 16. Mourning Dove. ZriKiidiini iiKirrouiut. 



Range. — North America from New Phiglaml, Manitoba and British Columbia, 

 southward. 



Now that the Passenger Pigeon has disappeared, 

 this species t)ecomes the only one found in the east, 

 with the exception of the little (Jround Dove in the 

 South Atlantic and Gulf States. While, sometimes, 

 small tiocks of them nest in a community, they gen- 

 erally nest in companies of two or three pairs. Their 

 nests are generally at a low elevation, in trees, bushes 

 and often upon the ground. Their nests are made 

 entirely of twigs and rootlets, and eggs may be found 

 from early in April until the latter part of Septemi)er, 

 as thev often raise two or three broods a season. The two eggs are white. 

 Sizel.'lo X .80. Data. — Refugio Co., Texas, May o, 1899. 2 eggs laid on the 

 ground in a slight cradle of twigs. Collector, James J. Carroll. 



[White. 



r^ 



// '^< 



Photo by II. B. Stoiigh. 

 NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE. 



