white feathers at the back of the head. Both sexes 

 are alike. 



Nest and Eggs The nest is built in the trees of small 

 twigs and grass. Two eggs are layed at a time, and a 

 pair of young birds are produced about every six weeks 

 from April to August. 



Measurements A trifle more than the tame pigeon. 



THE MOURNING DOVE 

 (Zenaidura macroura) 



The mourning dove is a cosmopolitan species found 

 in greater or less numbers in all sections. They have 

 a slight migratory movement from the higher to the 

 lower altitudes, but they cannot be called a migratory 

 bird. A large number of these birds begin their nesting 

 season in the mountains at altitudes of from 2000 to 

 4000 feet, raising one brood at that height, then mov- 

 ing down and nesting again, and moving again until 

 they reach the lower valleys, where they remain all 

 winter, congregating in certain places in flocks of hun- 

 dreds. Many, however, remain in the valleys all the 

 year and nest around the fields and along the streams. 



The mourning dove is so well known in every coun- 

 try that a description of it is unnecessary. 



Nest and Eggs The nest is generally built in the 

 small trees and lined with any soft article that they 

 can find. The eggs number two and a pair of the young 

 birds are hatched about every six weeks from May to 

 September. 



THE WHITE-WINGED DOVE 

 (Melopelia leucoptera) 



The white-winged dove is nearly one-half larger than 

 the common mourning dove. They range from Mexico 

 through southern Arizona to the Colorado desert in 

 southeastern California. In some parts of Arizona and 

 in Mexico they are found in large numbers, and afford 

 good shooting. Their habits are the same as the com- 

 mon dove, both as to food and nesting, though in parts 

 of Mexico it nests in the pitahaya plants a species of 

 cactus of whose fruit it is very fond. 



This species can easily be distinguished from any 

 other member of the dove family by the broad patch of 

 white on the wings. 



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