The Band-tailed Pigeon 



ence. Prof. F. H. King found upon examination, that one had eaten 

 nine larvae of a species that destroys the foliage of black walnut trees. 

 They also eat many canker worms While they occasion- 

 ally eat some of the smaller fruit, their work all summer long is to protect 

 the fruit tree from its enemies. Although it has been accused of robbing 

 the nests of other birds and eating their eggs, I do not believe the charge 

 has been sustained." 



In July, 1916, we found the snowbrush (Ceanothus cordulatiis) at 

 Sisson so infested with caterpillars that the entire chaparral cover was 

 being ruined. Taken together there were literally bushels of the creatures. 

 The solitary Cuckoo we encountered was having the time of his young 

 life; but what was he among so many! 



No. 225 



Band-tailed Pigeon 



A. O. U. No. 312. Chloroenas fasciata fasciata (Say). 



Synonyms. — Wild Pigeon. "Passenger Pigeon" (as frequently misidenti- 

 fied). White-collared Pigeon. 



Description. — Adult male: Head and neck all around and underparts, changing 

 on abdomen, dull wine-purplish, darkest on crown and chest, lightening, more bluish, 

 on chin and upper throat; a sharp, narrow cervical collar of white; behind this a cres- 

 centic patch of rounded feathers in scale-like arrangement, iridescent, with brassy and 

 bronze-green reflections; back, scapulars, and tertials lustrous purplish-slate; rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, wing-coverts, lining of wings, sides and flanks ashy blue; crissum 

 and under tail-coverts white; flight-feathers dusky; tail ashy blue basally, ashy brown 

 terminally and crossed by a broad subterminal band of dusky. Bill yellow, tipped 

 with black; legs and feet yellow with black nails; a prominent red eye-ring. Adult 

 female: Like male, but somewhat paler, especially below, where also less purple and 

 more brownish; cervical collar and metallic crescent not "subdued or wanting." Im- 

 mature birds lack the cervical collar and crescent, and are extensively washed with rusty 

 brown below, especially on breast; wing-coverts paler ashy, and ashy-white-edged. 

 Av. of 4 males and 6 females: length (skins) 372.2 (14.65); wing 219.8 (8.65); tail 134.4 

 (5.29); bill 17.4 (.685); tarsus 27.1 (1.067). 



Recognition Marks. — Little hawk size; a little larger than a domestic pigeon 

 and appearing much like one; tail-feathers rounded; cooing notes; noisy flapping flight. 



Nesting. — Nest: A rude platform of sticks placed at any height in oak tree or 

 conifer, or- even upon the ground. Eggs: usually single, but 2 of record; elliptical 

 oval or abruptly pointed at one end; pure white. Av. size 39.1 x 27.5 (1.54 x 1.08); 

 index 70. Season: February-October, but usually May-July; one brood. 



Range of Chloroenas fasciata. — Western North America from southwestern 

 British Columbia south to Cape San Lucas and Central America. 



Range of C. f. fasciata. — As above minus southern Lower California. 



H53 



