THE MEXICAN GROUND DOVE. 



151 



"They lay two eggs, and nest in trees or bushes. A nest found June 

 11, 1887, was constructed of a few dead twigs arid grass placed on a limb 

 of a willow near the ground; the female was on the nest. One found June 

 19 was also in a willow tree 20 feet from the ground and out on a limb 15 

 feet from the body of the tree, and made of a few dried stalks of alfalfa. It 

 contained two eggs and the female was on the nest. A third nest, found 

 June 26, containing two eggs, was made of long stems of dry grass and 

 placed about 10 feet from the ground. Whether this was a first laying, I 

 cannot say. The nests \re almost flat. I do not think I ever saw a cavity 

 more than half an inch deep." 



I found this subspecies a resident, during the entire year, at my camp 

 on Rillitto Creek, near Tucson, in 1872 and 1873. In the winter they be- 

 came exceedingly tame, and I have seen them frequently alight within a 

 few feet of my tent, picking up bread crumbs which I threw to them. They 

 are lovely and affectionate little birds, their call notes and cooing, however, 

 have rather a doleful sound. My picket line was always a favorite resort for 

 them, as well as for other species, particularly during the winter, when from 

 six to ten Doves might be seen almost any time of the day feeding on the 

 scattered grain left by the horses. I am inclined to believe that they remain 

 paired for life. 



Love-making begins about the first week in April, but although I searched 

 carefully for their nests I failed to find any till May 30. From this date 

 until the middle of September I examined a number. All of the nests seen 

 by me were placed on bushes or on trees, from 3 to 21 feet off the ground, 

 not a single one was found on the ground. 



The first one found, on May 30, was placed in a syringa bush, about 3 

 feet from the ground. The little platform of small twigs and grass steins 

 was very slight, about 4 inches in diameter, and almost perfectly flat. The 

 eggs were fresh. 



Other nests, subsequently noticed, were placed in various trees and bushes, 

 mostly in mesquite thickets, a few in willows, and two in walnut trees. A 

 nest found July 28 was placed in a tree of this kind, about 20 feet from the 

 ground. The tree was leaning, and some young sprouts had grown out from 

 the main trunk, among which the nest was placed. The eggs were fresh, 

 probably a second laying. All the nests examined by me were found in the 

 creek bottoms or else close by, generally in clumps of mesquite bushes. 



I found a set of eggs, slightly incubated, on September 14, and might 

 have found them breeding still later, I presume, if I had looked for their 

 nests. 



Although the Mexican Ground Dove begins breeding rather late, I believe 

 they usually rear two, if not three, broods a season. The young are fed on 

 small seeds and berries of v different kinds, as well as grain, whenever it is 

 procurable. Gravel, in considerable quantities, is used by them to help in 

 grinding up the various seeds they feed on. 



