The Mexican Ground Dove 



Taken 



ship. The call note, do 

 woo' uk, odd woo' uk, 

 sounds a little hard and 

 unromantic in compari- 

 son with that of the 

 larger doves. The sound 

 is very penetrating, but 

 it is so low-pitched that 

 some people fail to ob- 

 serve it. The singer is 

 discreet, and the sound 

 usually ceases upon the 

 appearance of the ever- 

 despicable human. Yet 

 at close quarters with 

 his lady love, the work- 

 aday swain knows how 

 to be tender. At such 

 times he trails after his 

 enamorata with trem- 

 bling wings and cries kddl 

 kddul. The daily visit 

 to the drinking pool is 

 the recognized occasion 

 for amours. Then dis- 

 cipline relaxes and stern 

 matrons will now and 

 then accept blandish- 

 ments at which cold 

 reason shudders. But, 

 after all, drinking's the 

 thing, and this, again, is 

 business. The dovelet 

 seeks a shallow edge of 

 mud and thrusts a beak 

 in boldly. Not by the indolent dip and trickle of Chat or Thrasher does 

 she satisfy thirst. No; with beak fully submerged, she drinks in rapid, 

 gainful gulps. Heads up, a significant exchange of glances, and off they 

 whirr with that directness which marks this bird an infallible champion 

 of efficiency — and — tediousness. Dura et inexorabilis — hi, Nana! 

 Also a disappointment. 



in Arizona Photo by the Author 



HER HUFFIXESS, THE MEXICAN GROUND DOVE 



nyo 



