PIGEONS 



;315. Passenger Pigeon. 



Ectopistes migratorius. 



Range. — Formerly, North America east of the 

 Rockies; casually seen in the upper Missis 



sippi Valley, now extinct. 



A handsome species (see frontispiece) with 



ruddy underparts, grayish upperparts and a 



long graduated 

 tail. This species 

 *"' years ago found 



in flocks of thous- 

 ands or millions, 

 is now practical- 

 ly exterminated, 

 chiefly by being 

 hunted and trap- 

 ped. A few pairs 

 probably now nest 

 in the interior, 

 from northern 



United States to Hudson Bay. Their nests are 



very rude, frail platforms of twigs, on which 



two white eggs are laid, they being longer and 



narrower, comparatively, than those of other species. Size of eggs, 1.50 



Data. — Southwest shore of Lake Manitoba, June 1. 1891. Nest of twigs 



aspen tree. 



White 



Passeng't 



Pigeon 



xl.02. 

 in an 



316. Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macroura caroiinensis. 



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

 southward. 



Now that the Pas- 

 senger Pigeon has 

 disappeared, this 



species becomes the 

 only one found in 

 the east, with the ex- 

 ception of the little 

 Ground Dove in the 

 South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States. While, White 



sometimes, small flocks of them nest in a com- 

 munity, they generally 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 en- 

 tirely of twigs and rootlets, and eggs may be 

 found from early in April until the latter part 

 of September, as they often raise two or three 

 broods a season. The two eggs are white. 

 Size 1.15 X .80. Data.— Refugio Co., Texas, May 

 3, 1899. Two eggs laid on the ground in a 

 slight cradle of twigs. Collector, James J. 

 Mourning- Dove Carroll. 



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