590 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA 



sticks, rootlets and grass steins, carelessly arranged j when above ground usually 

 situated on a horizontal branch or limb. 



Eggs — Normally 2, elliptical in shape, measuring in inches, 0.98 to 1.23 by 0.77 

 to 0.87 (in millimeters, 25.0 to 31.2 by 19.5 to 22.0), and averaging 1.07 by 0.83 

 (27.2 by 21.2) (thirteen sets, twenty-six eggs, from California) ; color white, un- 

 marked, with a noticeable surface gloss. 



General distribution — Of the Mourning Dove, including the two north 

 American subspecies: Breeds from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, 

 and southern Nova Scotia, south throughout the United States and Mexico, and 

 locally in Lower California and Guatemala; winters from southern Oregon, south- 

 ern Colorado, the Ohio Valley, and North Carolina south to Panama; casual in 

 winter in the Middle States. Of the Western Mourning Dove {marginella) : West- 

 ern North America west of the Mississippi Valley, and in western Mexico (A. O. U. 

 Clieck-list, 1910, p. 149; A. O. U. Committee, 1912, p. 381). 



Distribution in California — Abundant in summer, and breeds, throughout 

 the lowlands of the state, occurring also in small numbers in the mountains 

 through the lower portion of the yellow pine and Douglas fir belts (Transition 

 life zone). Common in winter in the coastal district of southern California from 

 the vicinity of Santa Barbara southward; also occurs at that season in smaU num- 

 bers in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys to the head of the latter. Eesident 

 on all of the southern coastal islands. 



The Western Mourning Dove, by one name or another, is probably 

 known to more people in California than any other single species of 

 game bird. It is found over very nearly tlie entire state, and usually 

 in considerable numbers. Although present at all times of the year 

 somewhere within our boundaries, it is much more abundant and 

 more widely distributed in summer than in winter. During the 

 nesting season tlie birds are found chiefly in pairs, but, after the 

 young are grown, old and young congregate in flocks and feed and 

 roost together. It is then that dove hunters find their best sport. 

 The birds have been hunted in California for many years, and still 

 are ; but in many of the eastern states they are now classed as non- 

 game birds and protected by law. In California the nesting period 

 of the dove has been found to include almost every month of the 

 year, and on the basis of the argument that no shooting should be 

 allowed when it is nesting, the arrangement of a proper hunting season 

 has presented considerable difficulty. Indeed, this and other considera- 

 tions, particularly its service as a destroyer of weed seeds, have quite 

 properly raised the question whether we should continue to allow the 

 dove to be shot as a game bird.* 



* In the belief that the Mourning Dove merited more detailed consideration than the 

 data at hand made possible, a circular letter asking for local information on the species 

 was, at our request, sent out by the California Fish and Game Commission to its deputies. 

 Replies were received imm the following persons: San Diego, Webb Toms; Elsinore, J. H. 

 Ovger; Los Angeles, A. .J. Stout: Santa Maria, H. J. Abels; Salinas, Prank Shook; Watson- 

 ville, .1. H. Hill: San .Jose, I. L. Koppel : Pleasantoii. Earl Downing: Oaklnnd, J. L. Biindock : 

 Redwood Citv. T. F. Maloney : Vallejo. W. H. Armstrong; Napa. 'W. J. Moore; Santa Rosa, 

 Henry Lencioni: Big Pine, E. H. Ober; Fresno, S. L. N. Ellis; Dunlap, F. A. Bullard; 

 Newman. J. E. Newsome; Columbia, G. F. Grant; Sutter Creek. F. S. Parke; Shingle, 

 Kuell Gray: Loomis, C. A. Scroggs ; Taylorsville. L. .1. Warren: Sacramento. George Neale : 

 Live Oak, E. D. Ricketts; Maxwell. S. J. Carpenter; Red Bluff, T. W. Birmingham; Susan- 



