258 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Family Meleageidae. Turkeys. 



Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Vieillot. Wild Turkey. 

 Formerly an abundant resident. Now extinct in this vicinity. 



Many records exist testifying to the local abundance of the 

 Wild Turkey in early days. The latest dates are given by 

 Bryant, who says : ' ' Killed in Swope Park region in 1863. Many 

 killed on Little Blue several years later." 



It is reported from several districts in south Missouri, espe- 

 cially in the southeastern part, that the Wild Turkeys find the 

 cover of the second-growth timber very much to their liking 

 and that they have materially increased during recent years. 



Order COLUMBAE. Pigeons and Doves. 



Family Columbidae. Pigeons and Doves. 



BcTOPiSTES MiGEATORius (Linn.). Passenger Pigeon. 



Formerly an irregular visitant in immense flocbs. Now extinct. 



Tremendous hordes of Wild Pigeons formerly visited this re- 

 gion. Bush says that in the autumn of 1879 the country south- 

 west of Independence was visited by millions of them. Bryant 

 says: "Passenger Pigeons here in 1873 and 1874. Killed fifteen 

 at one shot in September, 1873." 



Zenaidiira macroura carolinensis (Linn.). Mourning Dove. 

 Very common summer resident; somewhat rare winter resident. 



The Mourning Dove is found everywhere in the county, ar- 

 riving generally from the first week to the last week in March 

 and leaving in October and November. Single birds and flocks 

 of from three to six have been found wintering here during the 

 last five winters. 



They lay their two eggs early in May and raise two and some- 

 times three broods. A nest is occasionally foimd containing 

 three or four eggs, when two females use the same nest. The 

 nest is a makeshift affair and may be found on top of horizontal 

 limbs, low down or high up, in forks, on stumps, in vines, and 

 even on the bare ground. 



The Dove builds its nest in the city in favorable localities, 

 such as the Country Club and Rockhill regions, Cliff Drive, 

 Swope Park, and all the cemeteries. 



