WESTEMN MOUSNING DOVE 



601 



or on the other hand, the clearing of brush lands, doe& not affect them 

 unfavorably. 



In earlier years Mourning Doves furnished "a large amount of 

 food to the Indians during the spring and summer. Before migration 

 commences thfe Indians build rude huts of brush, grass, and weeds, in 

 which to secrete thelnselves, near the springs and streams. Loopholes 



Fig. 94. Open season for hunting doves in states which 

 allow these birds to be shot (1915). 



are made on the sides toward the water, through which arrows are 

 shot at the birds as they alight to drink" (A. K. Fisher, 1893a, p. 33). 



In 1895-96, when doves were yet permitted to be sold in the 

 markets, the records of the California Fish and Game Commissioii 

 (Calif. Fish Comm., 1896, p. 40) show that 5,160 birds were received 

 in San Francisco and Los Angeles from October to February, inclus- 

 ive. Their value was quoted as slightly less than five cents apiece. 



The dove population of California as a whole has decreased con- 

 siderably during recent years. Twenty-two of our correspondents 

 report decreases ranging from slight reductions to almost total extir- 



