The Pigeon in Confinement 207 



is so close to old Fort Dearborn. In writing you yester- 

 day, I overlooked what you said about the Milwaukee 

 man's experience with his birds just hatching. I under- 

 stand they were young birds. Thirty-two years ago 

 there was a big nesting between South Haven and St. 

 Joseph on Lake Michigan. About one week after the 

 main body commenced nesting, a new body of great size, 

 covering hundreds of acres, came and joined them. I 

 never saw nests built so thick, high and low. I found 

 they were all young birds less than a year old, which 

 could be easily explained from their mottled coloring. 

 To my surprise, soon as nests were built, they com- 

 menced tearing them down — a few eggs scattered about 

 told some had laid; within three days they all left, 

 moving in a body up the lake shore north. I have had 

 like facts told me by others who have witnessed the 

 same thing; and therefore conclude that your friend's 

 experience accurately portrays the habits of these birds 

 in their wild state. 



University of Chicago, 



May 30, 1904. 

 Dear Sir: — I have ten of the wild pigeons; they are 

 from a single pair obtained by Mr. Whittaker of Mil- 

 waukee about twenty years ago. Mr. W. bred from 

 this pair until he had a dozen or more. I obtained a 

 few pairs from him, and they bred fairly well for a few 

 years, but lately have failed to accomplish anything. 



