o86 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA 



attempted to dispose of the birds by putting out poisoned grain, and 

 with some success ! Eight killed in this manner were examined by 

 H. S. Swarth (MS). In Marin County, J. Mailliard (1912, p. 194) 

 states that he knows of pigeons picking up stray kernels in fields just 

 planted with forage corn. 



In Marcli, 1901, gi-eat flocks of the pigeons poured into San Gorgonio Pass 

 and fed in the barley fields. For about two weeks there wfne hundreds of them, 

 but they all left as suddenly as they had appeared. Their method of feeding was 

 peculiar. Instead of spreading out they kept together, alternately walking and 

 flying. Those behind would fly a few feet ahead of the advance line, alight, and 

 walk along picking up grain until other rear ones would fly ahead and it came 

 their turn again. In this way the flock advanced, some in the air all the time, 

 and ground was covered quite rapidly. The crop of a specimen secured contained 

 (515 grains of barley by actual count (Gilman, 1903, p. 134). 



The relative paucity of records of definite damage to grain leads 

 to the conclusion that the amount of actual loss inflicted by pigeons is 

 very small. If it regularly reached appreciable proportions, we would 

 hear far more frequent complaints. The irregularity in distribution 

 from year to year serves to mitigate sucli an adverse bearing of the 

 pigeon. Only at long intervals are the bu'ds likely to visit a given 

 locality in just the appropriate season to have any effect on tlie grain 

 interests. 



In Yosemite Valley attempts to destroy ground squirrels by dis- 

 tributing poisoned grain broadcast have resulted in the death of many 

 ])igeons. This method of squirrel poisoning in any locality where 

 pigeons occur, particularly if other food is scarce, is to be discouraged. 



The Band-tailed Pigeon seems to be extraordinarily free from 

 natural enemies. Of these we have good record of only two. Willard 

 (1916, p. Ill) says that in Arizona "the Prairie Falcon and Cooper 

 Hawk take considerable toll from the flocks. These two terrors of the 

 air will dash into a tree and grab a pigeon ofl' a branch, rarely making 

 an unsuccessful raid. The Prairie Falcon is the chief ofl;'ender. " "We 

 know of no similar report from California. 



The value of the Band-tailed Pigeon as a true game bird is to be 

 conceded without argument. Its pursuit is of a difi'erent type from 

 that offered by any other game species. An anonymous writer in 

 southern California, who signs himself "Stillhunter" (1907, i)p. 200- 

 202), says that the best place for hunting pigeons there is near a 

 dead tree where the birds are known to alight. For such a situation 

 he advises using a .22 or 25-20 rifle ; then single birds may be secured 

 without frightening away others in the flock. For sneaking up on 

 birds a "duck gun" is recommended. Ten pigeons are considered 

 a good day's bag. If the flesh lias become "strong" by reason of the 

 birds' acorn diet, soaking in brine flavored with vinegar or lemon 



