LIST AND DESCRIPTION | 19 
date memory only recalls that in general appearance they very 
much resembled our Mourning Dove, except that the Pigeon 
was a third larger. It is also likely that the head of the Pigeon 
was slaty while that of the Dove is buffy. Their food consisted 
of acorns, berries, weed seeds and grain. They were gregarious 
in nesting habits, building slight nests of fine twigs and laying 
one or two white eggs, which were somewhat larger than those: 
of the Mourning Dove. 
316. 1. WesTeERN Mourninc Dove (Zenaidura macroura 
marginella.) 
A common bird over the entire State. It comes early im 
the spring and remains till late autumn. Specimens have been. 
seen in Clay County even in January. This Dove is about eleven 
inches in length. The forehead and sides of head are buff; top 
of head and back slate or slaty brown. The male has under 
parts of buff with iridescent neck feathers, while the female is. 
paler, with breast more grayish brown. 
The very slight nest is placed in low trees, or sometimes. 
on the ground. They frequently use old nests of other birds, 
but always place a few weed stems in the old nests for their 
eggs and young to rest upon. Their principal diet is weed seeds, 
of which they devour vast quantities, as many as 9,200 having 
been found in a single bird’s stomach. 
