BIEDS OF THE PAPAGO SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 43 



amount of food also. They may be seen on top of the great columns as soon 

 as the first blossoms appear, thrusting their bills into the trumpet-shaped 

 flowers, but whether for insects, pollen, or nectar was not learned. As soon as 

 the fruit ripens, however, there is no doubt as to what they are seeking. Their 

 actions are a sufficient index even without the tell-tale red stain around their 

 mouths. They frequent the cactus groves as long as any fruit is left, flying a 

 long distance to reach this delicacy. 



The white-winged dove is an excellent game bird, of good size, 

 satisfactory for the table, and sufficiently swift of flight to test the 

 skill of the gunner. In flying from feeding ground to watering place, 

 the streams of passing birds give the best of flight shooting. 



Along the Apache Trail this bird was seen nearly everywhere. It 

 was repeatedly observed in parks and gardens in Phoenix and Tempe, 

 on the Papago Saguaro Monument, and on the farming land about 

 Tempe. About the shores of Roosevelt Lake a few of the birds 

 were seen, but not in the numbers observed in the lower valleys. The 

 species was also noted about Globe. 



INCA DOVE. 

 Scardafella inca (Lesson). 



Recognition marks. Size small; 8^ inches in length, about half 

 of which is tail. Aside from its diminutive size, like other pigeons 

 in appearance and actions. Chestnut coloration on wing, nearly 

 concealed in the closed wing but conspicuous in flight. Long tail, 

 edged with white. The long, white-bordered tail will serve to dis- 

 tinguish this species from the short-tailed Mexican ground dove, the 

 only bird with which it is apt to be confused. 



Occurrence. The towns of southern Arizona are fortunate in the 

 presence of this little dove, which not only tolerates human sur- 

 roundings, but flatly declines to reside amid any other. Though a 

 common species in certain sections, it is not of general distribution 

 over the State. It does not occur in northern Arizona, nor does it 

 reach the Colorado River; the region included in the lower Salt 

 River Valley and the Gila Valley immediately to the southward, 

 appears to be the center of abundance. In this section it is a com- 

 mon resident of every town, feeding in streets, roads, and corrals, 

 and nesting in shade trees or garden shrubbery. I have never yet 

 seen the Inca dove away from towns or the immediate vicinity of 

 ranch houses. It is a familiar feature in the streets of Phoenix and 

 Tempe, and was seen in lesser numbers at Globe. 



The life history of the Inca dove, as observed in this same general 

 region over a period of years, has been graphically described by 

 Gilman : 



The vivacious little Inca dove (Scardafella inca) is the cream of the dove 

 family and is in the public eye or ear most of the time. Whether sitting on 



