THE MOURNING DOVE 



(Zenaidura macroura) 



Adult male and female Entire upper parts, olive-brown, varying to 

 a bluish gray ; sides and back of neck, iridescent ; breast, with 

 a pinkish tinge; belly, buff; tail, long, pointed, the outer 

 edges conspicuously tipped with white; bill, black; legs and 

 feet, lake-red. Length about 12 inches. Range, from southern 

 Maine, southern Canada, and Oregon, south to Panama and the 

 West Indies. 



This beautiful and common bird arrives in the 

 latitude of New York in March and remains until 

 November. It is a swift, strong flier, passing with 

 a whistling sound which distinguishes it from all 

 other northern birds. The cry of this bird, from 

 which it derives its name, is doleful indeed. No 

 bereaved creature, wailing o'er its dead, could utter 

 a sadder or more pleading appeal than the long- 

 drawn " Coo-ah coo-coocoo? which this dainty 

 fraud sends floating through the soft April air. 

 I have listened to the dove of an evening, for the 

 cry is more potent when the shadows begin to 

 creep, until the small wretch has fostered a fit of 

 the dismals which demanded a brisk walk as the 

 best remedy. 



But mourn he ever so hopelessly, he means not 

 a word of it. On the contrary, he is telling the 



367 



