114 



BIRDS 



The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura carolinensis) 

 is the most abundant species of the East. It is half the size 

 of a common domestic pigeon, with long, pointed tail. It 

 is a warm brown above and paler below, with two black 

 spots on the cheeks, several small ones on the wings and a 

 beautiful iridescence on the neck. Males are readily dis- 

 tinguished by the more reddish cast of neck and chest and 

 their considerably larger size. 



This dove is rapidly decreasing in numbers, only its soli- 

 tary habits saving it from the fate of the Passenger Pigeon. 

 It breeds freely in captivity, and efforts are being made to 

 preserve it by this means. The New York Zoological So- 

 ciety possesses a good-sized flock, a number of young being 

 reared yearly. 



The Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata) and the 

 Red-billed Pigeon (C. Uavirostris) are the only large 

 pigeons now found on our mainland. The former ranges 

 through much of western North America, while the latter 

 is found only from the Rio Grande Valley to Central 

 America. The Band-tailed is a superb bird, one of the 

 finest of all pigeons. It does well in confinement, and a 

 cock bird which lived for many, years in the New York Zo- 

 ological Park reared numerous hybrids with various domes- 

 tic pigeons. There is no reason why it should not be bred 

 without difficulty. 



The Red-billed Pigeon is a favorite with the Mexicans, 

 and the young are frequently hand-reared for pets. Such 

 birds are extraordinarily tame and confiding. A pair in 

 the possession of Mr. Kenyon V. Painter successfully reared 

 a number of young, and no doubt the species could easily be 

 propagated. 



The White-winged Dove (Melopelia asiatica) 1-anges 

 from our southwestern states to Florida and West Indies. 

 It is pale brown above, with white wing edges and pale 



