I50 



nesting doves." " To shoot nesting doves " sounds 

 gruesome enough in all truth, and would ipso facto 

 seem to be its own condemnation. 



The Mourning Dove {Zejiaidura ^nacroura), an 

 interesting and fairl}^ numerous species, is the bird 

 most concerned. This Dove, especially in Southeru 

 California, is not migratory at all, and hence main- 

 tains a somewhat irregular breeding season — extend- 

 ing oftentimes as late into the year as October — 

 August and July probably having the maximum 

 number of nests. The Game Laws in the above- 

 mentioned region permit dove shooting from July ist. 

 The result is that thousands of parent birds are shot, 

 leaving the unfortunate nestlings to die of starvation. 

 Week-end "sportsmen" must needs have some 

 recreation during their vacation, and furthermore 

 several "trusts" of gun and ammunition dealers must 

 have customers, so the inhumane practice is con- 

 tinued. The matter has now become a political issue, 

 so that office holders or office seekers actually hesitate 

 to vote for a protection for these beautiful and valuable 

 birds, if in so doing they will in any wise hazard 

 losing the "vote" which is so "essential" to 

 perpetuate the holding of office. 



The Dove ordinance of Lower California is at 

 present a hot campaign-issue, and it is a novel 

 phase of ornithology to find the welfare of a species 

 depending entirely upon political favours. So keen is 

 the trade of politics with all its debasing concomi- 

 tants in this sun-lit land of fruit and flowers, that 

 every instinct of humanity is placed its unwilling 

 sla;ve. Twenty-eight States in America protect the 

 Dove. Ninety-eight per cent, of the citizens of 



