LAND BIRDS. 



253 



■ The ne.st is usually very slightly built, of a few twigs, weedstalks and 

 straws, forming a nearly flat platform on which the two white, unspotted, 

 elliptical eggs are laid. These measure 1.10 by .84 inches. 



A noteworthy performance of this bird at mating and nesting time seems 

 to have been overlooked by its biographers. An 

 individual leaves its perch on a tree, and, with vigor- 

 ous and sometimes noisy flapping (the wings seeming 

 to strike each other above the back), rises ol^Hquely 

 to a height of a hundred feet or more, and then, on 

 widely extended and motionless wings, glides back 

 earthward in one or more sweeping curves. Usually 

 the wings, during this gliding flight, are carried some- 

 what below the plane of the body, in the manner of 

 a soaring yellowlegs or sandpiper, and sometimes the 

 bird makes a complete circle or spiral before again 

 flapping its wings, which it does just before alighting. 

 Occasionally a soaring dove glides downward in this 

 way until within a yard or two of the ground, but 

 more often it perches again at an elevation of twenty 

 or thirty feet. While gliding rapidly dowaiward 

 its resemblance to a small hawk is noticeable. 



This peculiar evolution is commonly repeated 

 several times at intervals of two or three minutes, 

 and appears to be a display flight for the benefit of 

 its mate, the assumption being that only the male Dove soars. Although 

 familiar with the Mourning Dove's habits in New England, Western New 

 York, and elsewhere, we have never seen this peculiar flight except in 

 Michigan. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult male: Forehead, sides of head and neck, and lucnst, clcnr pinkish-buff, lightest 

 and most buffy on forehead and sides of head, darkest .ind |iiiikcst on the breast; chin 

 nearly pure white; sides of the lower neck glossed with ch;ingeal>le iiictallic violet or reddish 

 purple; a small but distinct blue-black spot on each side "of the upper neck; crown and 

 occiput clear bluish gray, becoming brownish on back, rump, upper tail-coverts, scapulars 

 and wing-coverts; the inner wing-coverts and scapulars with distinct rounded black s[)ots; 

 middle tail-feathers like the back, the others slaty blue at base, crossed by a broad black 

 band, the terminal third or more white or bluish white. Adult female: Similar, but 

 duller and browner, with little or no blue-gray on the head, or pinkish on the breast; 

 the purplish area on the neck smaller and fainter; the black neck spots small and dull 

 blackish. Young: Similar to adult female, but many of the feathers of the upper surface, 

 neck and chest, with wliitish edgings or tips, the black neck spot and metallic gloss entirely 

 wanting- 



Length 11 to 13 inches; wing 5.70 to 6.10; tail 5.70 to 6.50. 



Fig. 66. 

 Tail of Mourning Dove. 



