174 Hodge, A Last Word on the Passenger Pigeon. [apHI 



Do such letters constitute sufficient warrant for continuing the 

 investigation a third season? The correspondence for the season 

 will not be complete until, probably, Jan. 1. If decisive evidence 

 does come in, that the species still survives anywhere it may de- 

 termine future action. 



The nightmare of the whole situation has been that the last 

 survivors of this great species were being ignorantly shot off. Our 

 two years' active search has developed considerable verbal, but 

 no tangible, evidence for this. The latest in this line is the follow- 

 ing — which has been given wide publicity (not by me) in the daily 

 press as definite proof that Passenger Pigeons are still being shot. 

 The remains of another Mourning Dove came in from Maine the 

 day after. 



Dr. C. F. Hodge, 

 Dear Sir: 

 One day recently, while out hunting, I shot a bird and had it 

 mounted by one of our leading taxidermists. It proved to be a "Passenger 

 Pigeon" {Ectopistes migratorius) . I think it is a young bird as it has dark 

 spots on the back. Please reply giving me some more information con- 

 cerning this bird. Yours truly, 



D wight P. Cushman, Hebron, Me. 

 Oct. 30, 1911. 



I did reply, sending leaflets with photographs and underscored 

 boldly in red ink the comparative lengths of the Pigeon and Mourn- 

 ing Dove. I also enclosed the Audubon Association's colored 

 plates of the two birds, and I said: 



"If, after examining your bird in the light of the material I am sending 

 you with this, you are still sure that the specimen is a Passenger Pigepn, 

 I would be glad to pay express both ways for a look at it and for the privi- 

 lege of keeping it a few days to show to the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, which is meeting in Philadelphia soon." 



An early express brought a little box with a little stuffed Mourn- 

 ing Dove in it. It went back by return express to Hebron, Maine, 

 express $.70. 



My expenses for the season have been $99.70. The balance of 

 $.30 is suggestive. Of this amount Col. Anthony R. Kuser and 

 family voluntarily contributed $80. 



Since writing the above report it has been decided to continue 

 the rewards another season, i. e. until October 31, 1912, as follows: 



