THE MOURNING DOVE. 427 



well distributed throughout the north. It is known that the birds do breed 

 by single pairs, to some extent at least ; but it is altogether probable that the 

 Passenger Pigeons are virtually gone gone irretrievably after the manner 

 of the Bison lost in the maw of human greed. 



The following is the only recent published instance of the bird's occur- 

 rence in Ohio, altho others doubtless have been known locally to hunters : "On 

 March 24, 1900, a solitary individual was shot by a small boy near Sargents, 

 close to the boundary line of Pike and Scioto Counties, and mounted by the 

 late wife of ex-sheriff C. Barnes of Pike County. This is the only authentic 

 record for twenty years." 1 



No. 191. 



MOURNING DOVE. 



A. O. U. No. 316. Zenaidura macroura (Linn.). 



Synonyms. WILD DOVE ; TURTLE DOVE ; CAROLINA DOVE. 



Description. Adult male : General color of upper parts olive-gray or drab, 

 with glaucous bloom and changeable metallic reflections on hind neck and ante- 

 rior marginal areas of wings ; with bright purplish red iridescence on the sides 

 of the neck ; the lower scapulars and inner quills broadly but sparingly black- 

 spotted ; hind head bluish slate ; remainder of head light drab with a vinaceous 

 tinge, paling on throat; a blue-black spot below the ear; tail graduated, central 

 feathers like back; the remainder slaty at base, blackening distally, then abruptly 

 white for terminal inch ; fore parts below deep vinaceous, fading into cream-buff 

 on lower belly and crissum ; axillars and under wing-coverts light bluish gray ; 

 bill black ; bare space about eye light blue ; feet lake red. Adult female : Similar 

 to male, but bluish of hind head and neck restricted or wanting ; less iridescence ; 

 under parts and forehead light drab tinged with vinaceous on breast. Immature : 

 Like adult female but duller, without iridescence ; black spot below ear wanting ; 

 feathers of fore parts above and below tipped with whitish. Length about 12.00 

 (304.8) ; w.ng 5. 75-6.00 (146.1-152.4) ; tail 5.75-6.50 (146.1-165.1) ; bill .57 (i4-5)- 



Recognition Marks. Robin size ; sober, blended colors ; rapid, graceful 

 flight, accompanied by whistling sound of wings ; mournful, "cooing" notes. 



Nest, a frail platform of twigs or straw at moderate heights in trees or on 

 stumps, rocks, etc. ; sometimes on the ground. Eggs, 2, white. Av. size, 1.08 x 

 .82 (27.4 x 20.8). 



General Range. Temperate North America, from southern Maine, southern 

 Canada and British Columbia, south to Panama and the West Indies, breeding 

 throughout its North American range. 



Range in Ohio. Common summer resident; decreasing locally. Winter 

 resident in southern third of state and casually elsewhere. 



ALTHO the birds winter with us in small numbers, it is usually about 

 the middle of March "when the voice of the turtle is heard in the land." . The 



1 Rev. W. F. Henninger in the Wilson Bulletin, Sept., 1902. 



