19^8^^] Dea-nv., The Passenger Pigeon in Confinement. 18 L 



THE PASSENGER PIGEON (EC TO PISTES MIORA- 

 TORI US) IN CONFINEMENT. 



BY RUTHYEN DEANE. 



In 'The Auk' (Vol. XIII, 1896, p. 234), I published an account 

 of 'The Passenger Pigeon in Confinement,' based on a flock of 

 fifteen birds, some of which had been in possession of Mr. David 

 W. Whittaker of Mihvaukee, Wis., for several years. Mr. Whit- 

 taker raised this flock from a pair of young birds which he received 

 from a young Indian who trapped them in Shawano County in 

 northeastern W'isconsin. 



Between the time of my inspection of the pigeons (INIarch 1, 1896) 

 and the spring of 1897, the whole flock was purchased by Prof. 

 Charles O. Whitman of the University of Chicago, but the following 

 year he returned seven of the birds to INIr. Whittaker. My sincere 

 thanks are due to Prof. Whitman for furnishing me with the follow- 

 ing detailed memoranda of the increase and decrease of the flock 

 which remained in his })ossession until the winter of 1907, when 

 the last bird died. 



"1896. — On March 14, purchased three Passenger Pigeons from 

 David W. Whittaker of Milwaukee, W'is. (Id", -6 ? ). In October 

 purchased another pair from the same flock. 



"1897. — In March purchased the balance of the flock consisting 

 of ten birds, thus giving me the entire flock of fifteen birds. During 

 this year nine young were hatched but only four lived, giving me a 

 flock of nineteen. 



"1898. — Gave seven birds back to Mr. Whittaker and from the 

 twelve remaining five eggs were hatched, but only two of the young 

 lived, leaving me with a flock of fourteen. 



"1899. — Fifteen eggs were laid from February 24 to April 17, 

 but none of these hatched, although five or six developed to the 

 point of hatching. From A])ril 21 to 23, four more eggs were laid 

 and three of these hatched, but the young all died. May 28, took 

 the flock to Woods Hole, Mass., but no more eggs were laid; thus 

 1899 proved fruitless. 



"1900. — During this year fewer eggs were laid and not a single 

 young was raised. 



