LIST AND DESCRIPTION 79- 



date memory only recalls that in general appearance they very 

 much resembled our Mourning Dove, except that the Pigeon 

 was a third larger. It is also likely that the head of the Pigeon 

 was slaty while that of the Dove is buffy. Their food consisted 

 of acorns, berries, weed seeds and grain. They were gregarious 

 in nesting habits, building slight nests of fine twigs and laying 

 one or two white eggs, which were somewhat larger than those 

 of the Mourning Dove. 



316. 1. WESTERN MOURNING DOVE (Zenaidura macroura 

 marginella.) 



A common bird over the entire State. It comes early it> 

 the spring and remains till late autumn. Specimens have been, 

 seen in Clay County even in January. This Dove is about eleven, 

 inches in length. The forehead and sides of head are buff; top 

 of head and back slate or slaty brown. The male has under 

 parts of buff with iridescent neck feathers, while the female is 

 paler, with breast more grayish brown. 



The very slight nest is placed in low trees, or sometimes 

 on the ground. They frequently use old nests of other birds, 

 but always place a few weed stems in the old nests for their 

 eggs and young to rest upon. Their principal diet is weed seeds, 

 of which they devour vast quantities, as many as 9,200 having 

 been found in a single bird's stomach. 



