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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 





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It frequently begins to breed as early as the 20th of April and two 

 or possibly three broods are reared. The nest is placed in the thick branches 

 of an evergreen tree, in the fork of an apple tree, in an old robin's nest, 

 on the top of a stiimp, or rotten rail in an old fence, or any other convenient 

 location, sometimes even on the ground at the edge of a gravel pit or embank- 

 ment. It is composed of slender twigs and grass stalks, and lined with a 

 few leaves, grasses or moss, but quite flat and meager. The eggs are two 



in number, nearly elliptical 

 in shape, and pure white 

 in color, averaging about 

 1. 1 2 X. 82 inches in size. All 

 summer long the mournful 

 cooing of this little pigeon 

 can be heard in the orchards 

 and shade trees, even in the 

 villages and the outskirts 

 of cities, where they are left 

 unmolested. 



The Mourning dove is 

 beneficial in its food habits, 

 partaking onh' of waste 

 grain, weed seeds and in- 

 sects. I have taken several 

 thousand seeds of the foxtail or pigeon grass from the crop of a single dove 

 which was shot from a flock of about 30 that were coming from an oat field 

 in Ontario county. By measurement it was evident that this company of 

 doves had just picked up about two quarts of weed seeds for their afternoon 

 ineal. Consequently in the course of several weeks they would do the farmer 

 an inestimable service. The flesh of the Mourning dove is well flavored, and 

 they are killed by thousands for food in the southern states, and if they 

 ever become too abundant in New York State, they may be treated as a 

 game bird under proper restrictions, to replace in some degree the finer 

 species which we have lost. 



Photo by Ralph S. Paddock 

 Muurniny dove's nest and eggs 



