The Western White-winged Dove 



in even but impassioned tones, is probably intended for a single pair of 

 ears, or is an utterance en famille, after the eternal question has been 

 settled. Anyhow, with a score of courtships proceeding abreast, the 

 dove-thronged forest of May-time vibrates to a volume of sound not 

 otherwise attained in the West; and the fortunate visitor is not likely 

 soon to forget the multitudinous pipe-organing of Melopelia. 



The White- 

 winged Dove is a tar- 

 dy migrant, and its 

 numerous arrival in 

 late April is quite con- 

 spicuous. Flight is 

 conducted at low 

 levels, and occupancy 

 is effected by a pro- 

 gressive invasion 

 rather than by a sud- 

 den coup. The birds 

 troop across the roads 

 in endless desulto- 

 ry columns, or else 

 rise hastily from a 

 wayside snack ; or, 

 most likely of all, 

 gather upon ex- 

 posed branches to 

 mark with curious 

 wooden detach- 

 ment the passing 

 of the intruder. 



Y\ "hen surprised, the White-wing makes off with a noisy flapping, like that 

 of a Band-tailed Pigeon ; and the bird is so proud of the noise it can make 

 with its wings, that it not infrequently stages for the benefit of the ladies a 

 sort of flap-doodle song-flight. There is no song forthcoming, but the per- 

 former applauds his own resolution by a rhythmical percussion of the wings. 



Seated on the nesting platform, especially with the tail turned 

 away, the White-winged Dove scarcely differs in appearance from its 

 cousin, the Mourning Dove; but when the bird is flushed, a large white 

 crescent on each wing flashes into view, and one notes the broad terminal 

 band of white on a tail spread fan-wise. The stolid groups which gather 

 in trees remind one, rather, of Pigeons (Band-tails) than of our more 

 familiar and more solitary Dove. 



1167 



Taken in Arizona 



A WAYSIDE REFUGE 



WHITE-WINGED DOVES IN TREE-TOPS 



Photo by the Author 



