CHAPTER XVII 



MOURNER, MARTYR, WHISTLER, AND 

 DRUMMER 



MouKNiNG Dove — ^Passenger Pigeon — ^Bob-white— 

 Ruffed Gkouse 



The Mourning Dove 



Length — 12 to 13 inclies. 



MaU — Grayish brown or fawn color above, varying to 

 bluish gray. Crown and upper part of head greenish 

 blue, with green and golden metalhc reflections on sidesi 

 of neck. A black spot under each ear. Forehead and 

 breast reddish buff; lighter underneath. Two middle 

 tail feathers longest; all others banded with black and 

 tipped with ashy white. Wing coverts sparsely spotted 

 with black. Flanks and underneath the wings bluish. 



Femafe— Duller and without iridescent reflections on neck. 



Range — ^North America, from Quebec to Panama, and 

 westward to Arizona. Most common in temperate 

 climate, east of Rocky Mountains. 



Season — March to November. Common summer resi- 

 dent; not migratory south of Virginia. 

 (See -plate, -page 195.) 



No sympathy need be wasted on this incessant love- 

 maker that slowly sings coo-o-o, ah-coo-o-o-ooo-o-o-ooo-o-o, 



201 



