PIGEONS 211 



the memory of scores of people now living, none remain now. 

 All have left us. While practically the last birds disappeared 

 somewhere about 1885, a few stragglers were occasionally 

 taken until what seems to be the last Maine specimen recorded 

 was taken at or near Dexter by Frank Rogers, August 16, 

 1896, which record was reported to me by Mr. Hoxie, the well 

 known Foxcroft taxidermist. 



The birds formerly nested by hundreds in hardwood growth, 

 placing their nests by scores on the trees. The nests were 

 very fragile and composed of sticks arranged to make a mere 

 platform through which the eggs could be seen from below. 

 One or two pure white eggs were laid, which measured 1.47 x 

 1.09. Both birds were said to assist in building the nest and 

 incubating and caring for the young. The old settlers said 

 that their notes were a "coo,coo" similar to but shorter and 

 quicker than the notes of the common Domestic Dove while 

 they also had a call note much like "see-see-see". 



Their food was largely beechnuts and acorns (the so called 

 "mast") also berries, cherries and insects. If not now extinct 

 throughout the entire United States its extinction is not far 

 distant. Netted by the million, met by destructive man at 

 every feeding and breeding place, is it any wonder that the 

 countless millions of the past are with us no longer? 



Genus ZENAIDURA Bonaparte. 



316. Zenaidura macrour a (hinn.^. Mourning Dove; Tur- 

 tle Dove; Carolina Dove. 



Plumage of adult male : grayish brown above changing to bluish slate on 

 crown and to vinaceous on forehead ; sides of neck glossy metallic purple ; 

 a small black mark below ear ; outer tail feathers slaty gray towards base, 

 outwards banded with black and tipped with white and ashy ; chest and 

 breast vinaceous, ranging lower down into cream buff and into paler on the 

 under tail coverts. Plumage of adult female : breast and forehead washed 

 with grayish brown ; the ear spots smaller and not decidedly black ; not so 

 glossy metallic ; otherwise similar. Immature plumage : feathers of the 

 upper parts and chest with paler tips and more brownish ; no gloss on neck 

 and ear marks lacking. Wing 5.60 to 6.00 ; culmen 0.52. 



