PIGEONS AND DOVES 283 



gan of any importance was in 1881. "It was of only moderate size 

 perhaps eight miles long." The largest known Michigan nesting occurred 

 in 1876 or 1877. It was twenty-eight miles long and averaged three or 

 four miles in width. 



The Passenger Pigeon is now so nearly extinct that although it 

 has been reported as "seen" on numerous occasions, there appears to 

 be no unquestionable record of its actual capture since 1898. Singu- 

 larly enough two specimens were taken on September 14 of that year, 

 an immature bird at Detroit, Mich. (Fleming, Auk, 1903, p. 66), and an 

 adult male at Canandaigua, N. Y. (Eaton, "Birds of New York," 

 which see also for many other records). 



Through Mr. E. H. Forbush I learn that a female Passenger Pigeon 

 is said to have been shot at Bar Harbor, Me., in the summer of 1904. 

 It was mounted in July of that year by J. Bert Baxter, a taxidermist of 

 Bangor, who received it in the flesh. The present whereabouts of this 

 specimen are unknown. 



1907. MERSHON, W. B., The Passenger Pigeon, 225. A Monograph 

 (Outing Co.). 1910. WRIGHT, A. H., Auk, XXVII, 428, 443; see also 

 XXVIII, 53, 66; 111; 346-366. 1910. DILLEN, Cassinia, 33-36 (early 

 records). 1911. HODGE, C. F., Auk, XXVIII, 49 (present status). 



316. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis (Linn.). MOURNING DOVE. 



Ad. (?. Upperparts olive grayish brown; forehead vinaceous; crown bluish 

 slate-color; sides of neck with metallic reflections, a small black mark below 

 the ear; middle tail-feathers like back, the others, seen from above, slaty 

 gray for the basal half, then banded with black and broadly tipped with 

 ashy and white; breast vinaceous; belly cream-buff. Ad. 9. Similar, but 

 with less iridescence; breast and forehead washed with grayish brown. Im. 

 Much like 9, but the feathers tipped with whitish. L., 11'85; W., 5*72; 

 T., 5'50; B., '53. 



Remarks. The Dove is sometimes mistaken for the Wild Pigeon, but, 

 aside from the differences in size, may always be distinguished by its olive 

 grayish brown instead of bluish slate-color rump, the black mark below the 

 ear, and other characters. 



Range. N. A. Breeds chiefly in Sonoran and L. Transition zones from 

 B. C., Sask., Man., Ont., and s. N. S. s. throughout the U. S. and Mex., and 

 locally in L. Calif, and Guatemala; winters from s. Ore., s. Colo., the Ohio 

 Valley, and N. C. to Panama; casual in winter in the Middle States. 



Washington, P. R., common, except in midwinter. Ossining, common 

 S. R., Mch. 3-Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, rather rare T. V., Apl. 

 8- June 18; Sept. 18-Nov. 15. N. Ohio, common, S. R., Mch. 20-Oct. 25; 

 rare W. V. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common S. R., formerly common, Mch., 12- 

 Oct. 21. SE. Minn., common S. R., Mch. 15-Dec. 25. 



Nest, a flat structure of small twigs rather loosely put together, on the 

 lower branches of a tree, generally within ten feet of the ground; rarely on 

 the ground in the Eastern States. Eggs, 2, white, 1'07 x '83. Date, D. C., 

 Apl. 18; Nazareth, Pa., Apl. 15; Ossining, N. Y., Apl. 17; Cambridge, May 

 8; se. Minn., May 12. 



Doves resemble Wild Pigeons, but are much smaller, and their rapid 

 flight is accompanied by the whistling sound of wings, while the flight 

 of the Wild Pigeon is said to be noiseless. 



During the nesting season they may be found in pairs, generally 

 in open woodlands or tree-bordered fields. They also visit roads and 



