BIRDS OF THE NORTHERN STATES 2905 
289 Bob-white. Introduced in the 300@ Canadian Ruffed Grouse. Rare 
Dakotas. Rare P.R. P.R. 
300 Ruffed Grouse. P.R. in very 309 Sage Grouse. P.R. in Western 
few parts. Dakota. 
Pigeon Family. — There are said to be about 300 species of pigeons 
and doves in the world, but we have only one of them in the northern 
states. This is not counting our domestic pigeons, which have been de- 
veloped from the Rock pigeon found in the wild state in Europe. Pigeons 
live upon seeds ; and when drinking they do not raise the head to swallow, 
as other birds do, but keep the bill im- 
mersed, and suck the water as horses 
and cattle do. 
316 Mourning Dove. Turtle Dove. 
Length 11 to 13 inches. 
Looks like a small pigeon with a 
long tail, and walks and flies like one. 
Soft brown above, paler and more 
yellowish below; head and neck es- 
pecially beautiful ; a small black mark 
below the ear. The peculiarly mourn- 
ful ‘‘ coo-00-coo-00 ” of the male can 
be heard a long distance and gives the Movurninc Dove 
species its name. The nest isa frail 
affair, built of a few sticks, usually on a horizontal branch, and is often 
blown down by the wind, — eggs or babies and all. 
These doves are valuable helpers to the farmer and gardener, as they 
feed principally on weed seeds, and a single bird will easily consume several 
thousand of them in a day. 
BIRDS OF PREY 
These are large and fierce birds living exclusively upon animal food. 
They have very stout, hooked bills and their toes are armed with strong, 
curved nails or talons. To this order belong the Vulture, the Hawks, and 
the Owls. 
Vulture Family. — Very large birds. Their appearance is repulsive 
and their habits are no better, for they live upon decaying flesh. Only 
one species occurs in the northern states. 
