THE MOURNING DOVE. 17 



take very long to "thin out" the mourning do'ves 

 in the hunting season, so we cease to see them 

 about our homes or in the open fields and on the 

 mesas. 



They and the quail retire farther and farther 

 away, and learn to keep very still and out of 



THE MOURNING DOVE. 



sight. They grow to be very alert and wary, 

 seeming to recognize the sound of a shotgun from 

 a long distance. And well they know what the 

 loud report may mean! It is a sad time of the 

 year, and nobody seems to get any pleasure out of 

 all the killing, save the hunters, and they call it 

 "sport." 



We have heard of several attempts to domesti- 

 cate the mourning doves, but they are said to be 



W.S.K. VOL. 9 2 



