222 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



The food of the passenger pigeon is almost wholly of a 

 vegetable nature, although occasionally a few insects are 

 eaten. Its usual diet consists of acorns and other nuts, to- 

 gether Avith seeds and grains. Even the young are fed upon 

 beechnuts. In the United States the passenger pigeon is now 

 practically an extinct bird, the ruthless persecution it has en- 

 dured having led to this result. 



The Mourning or Carolina Dove is a beautiful bird whose 

 plumage and habits entitle it to high consideration. It is 

 vegetivorous, but seems to feed more freely on the seeds of 

 Aveeds than on cultiA^ated grains. Professor King took four 

 thousand and sixteen seeds of pigeon-grass (Setaria) from 

 the stomach of a single bird, Avhile from that of another 

 seA^en thousand five hundred seeds of oxalis have been taken. 

 The young are fed Avith the regurgitated vegetable food of the 

 adult. 



The Band-tailed I'igeon i^ColuniJxi /(txc'uitd), Avliich ranges 

 AvestAvard froju the Rocky Mountains and southAvard through 

 Mexico, is about the only pigeon that Ave noAv have Avorthy 

 to be called game. It is sought by sportsmen both for its 

 flesh and for its gamy (pialities. Its food consists of grain, 

 berries and other soft fruits, and buds of certain trees, notably 

 (^f balsam-})oplar. 



THE PARTRIDGE AND GROUSE. 



The Bob-White, or Quail, is found from Minnesota to 

 Texas and eastAvard. It is favorably regarded by epicures 

 and gunners and deserves the good Avill of those interested in 

 agriculture, it lives in fields and i)astures and during the 

 summer feeds largely on insects. Colorado i)otato-beetles are 

 frequently eaten : one hundred and one of these pests have 

 been taken from the stomach of one bird. Army-worms are 

 also devoured. When insects are not plentiful, vegetable 

 matter, Avhich is ahvays taken in greater or less quantities, 

 becomes the staple form of diet. This includes grains, seeds, 



