THE WHITE-WINGED DOVE. 559 



same writer, tlie female sometimes lays again before the young ha\e flown, in 

 which case they must assist, perforce, in the duties of incubation. 



The young are delicate creatures, in spite of the fact that they get as fat 

 as ovsters before thev leave the nest. The\- are fed by regvn-gitation and their 

 food is mingled with a whitish tluid from the adult stomach — "Pigeons' 

 milk." "At night," according to Langille, "the old one sits crosswise on 

 them even when they are quite large, the nest and birds together thus making 

 quite a grotesque pile." 



When frightened from the nest the female drops instantly to the ground, 

 and goes off into a series of elaborate con\-ulsions in an effort to distract atten- 

 tion from her treasures. From the fact that this trait of decoying is oftenest 

 exhibited by ground-nesting species, it is fair to guess that the Mnurning Dove 

 was originally and exclusively, as now occasionally, a ground-nester. The 

 male, also, is pretty sure to be close at hand, if. indeed, he was not taking his 

 turn upon the eggs ; and when the young are ready to leave the nest he takes 

 charge of them, while his mate is incubating another pair. 



In late summer and early autunm the Doves gather into groups or small 

 flocks, altho they cannot be characterized as "highly gregarious," and they 

 feed upon fallen grain and acorns, with wild Ix-rries, and also, to scime extent, 

 upon insects. In our State they do not deeply penetrate the timber, preferring 

 to spend their time rather in the open fields, or else resorting to some corral 

 or feeding lot to share what the cattle waste. At night they roost chiefly upon 

 the ground, and if the wind is stirring they seek the shelter of some unused 

 irrigating ditch. 



The Mourning Dove should by no means be regarded as a game bird. It 

 is true that its flight is rapid and that it becomes ver}- wild under persecution, 

 but it is bv nature a confiding species, venturing with its family into our 

 orchards and shade trees, where unmolested. Its unquestioned gift of song 

 ought in itself to be considered amjile ground for full protection. 



No. 225. 



WHITE-WINGED DOVE. 



A. O. U. No. 319. Melopelia asiatica (Linn.l. 



Synonyms. — Singing Dove. Paloina caiitator. 



Description. — Adult male: Above grayish brown, becoming grayer on wing 

 and bluer (plumbeous) on rump; tail except central pair of feathers plumbeous 

 slaty with terminal fourth white : wings with a large transverse patch of white 

 on the principal coverts, the primaries blackening ; head, neck, and breast light 

 brownish gray tinged with vinaceous ; sides of neck glancing golden-green chang- 



