538 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



58. PASSENGER PIGEON 



ECTOPISTES MIGRATORIUS (Linn.-eus) 



The Wild Pigeon, formerly abundant throughout Indiana dur- 

 ing the spring and fall migrations, is now probably extinct. None 

 has been seen about Lake Maxinkuckee since 1885. On April 6 

 of that year the senior author saw 6 or 7 in Farrar's woods at the 

 south end of the lake. These are the last he has seen in the 

 State or elsewhere. 



59. MOURNING DOVE 



ZENAIDURA MACROURA CAROLINENSIS (Linn:eus) 



The Dove is quite common in the region of the lake, and ap- 

 parently remains during mild winters. Although it is often seen 

 in late winter (December 3, 1900, December 13, 1904, January 4 

 and 6, 1905), it is usually not often noted until in February or 

 March, and it is not until a few warm days have come that one 

 hears its cooing. In the spring they are usually seen in twos 

 or threes. In the spring of 1901 the first was noted February 

 11, in willows by Long Point. From this time on they were seen 

 quite frequently. The first one was heard cooing March 19, and 

 thereafter they were heard often. Nests were found in various 

 places; two were noted in trees near Green's marsh, one 10 feet 

 up and the other 30 feet up. They nested still more abundantly 

 on the brush piles in Green's marsh, and also occasionally on the 

 ground of the same region. On April 26 a nest with two eggs was 

 found on a brush pile, and April 8 a new empty nest was found 

 in a similar situation, the dove in leaving the nest feigning lame- 

 ness. May 10 young birds were seen just able to fly. They were 

 heard cooing in July. One was noted October 19, 1904. In 

 autumn they usually flock together more or less. On August 12, 

 1900, a flock of about 20 was seen on ground northeast of the 

 lake. On September 14, a very large flock was seen just south of 

 Kewanna. On December 3, 1900, another flock of about 20 was 

 seen. They often pass the winter in cornfields. In 1906 they 

 were heard cooing throughout the summer, and seen quite fre- 

 quently from July 20 to October 30, when they were frequently 

 seen along the railroad track. 



In 1907, they were quite common and were noted almost daily 

 from September 11 to October 7, the period of observation. One 

 large flock was seen near Delong October 7. In 1913 they were 

 noted practically every day from September 3 to the last of Oc- 

 tober. 



