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316. Zenaidura macroura (Linn.). [460.] Mourning Dove ; Carolina Dove. 



A common breeder throughout the Mississippi Valley. From lati- 

 tude 36° southward this Dove can be found regularly and abundantly 

 throughout the year. Between latitude 3G° and latitude 38° it is a 

 regular winter resident, occurring in flocks, but is not abundant ; north 

 of latitude 38°, although many are found each winter, they are merely 

 single birds, that have found exceptionally favorable quarters. In the 

 winter of 1883-'84 it was reported from as far north as southern Wis- 

 consin (at Deiavan). In the West it is not common in winter north of 

 latitude 33°. In the spring of 1881, during the latter part of February, 

 slight movements occurred, and a few 'firsts' were noted, but probably 

 these were birds that had wintered not far off and were merely chang- 

 ing their feeding grounds. No real movement took place until about 

 a week after the Passenger Pigeons commenced flying. In its north- 

 ward progress the Carolina Dove averages about one week behind the 

 Pigeon. March 23 and 21 it appeared at Saint Louis and neighboring 

 points. March 28 to 30 seem to have been days of much movement, 

 the van advancing from latitude 42° on the 28th to latitude 43° 43' on 

 the 30th. By April 6 it had reached Elk Paver, Minn, (latitude 45° 

 45'), and on the 11th, farther west, was reported from Linwood, Nebr., 

 and Vermillion, Dak. The Dove ceases to be common as we approach 

 our northern boundary, which has been given as the northern limit 

 of its range. Nevertheless, I always found a few in Minnesota at lat- 

 itude 47°, arriving the first week in May, and on the last day of May, 

 in 1884, it appeared at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (latitude 50°), where 

 the species is common (Sash). At Winnepeg, Manitoba, it is rare 

 (Seton). 



In the fall of 1884 the bulk left Des Moines, Iowa, August 25, and 

 the last was seen there the next day. During the winter of 1884-85 

 the Mourning Dove was noted from Glasgow, Mo. ; Eeeds, Mo.; Shaw- 

 neetown, 111.; and Peoria, 111. At Aledo, 111., they are said to have 

 been present during all previous winters, but none were seen there in 

 1885 until April. Migration began at Manhattan, Kans., March 5, and 

 Paris, 111., March 23. The birds reached Saint Louis, Mo., and Emporia, 

 Kans., March 31, with a very early arrival at Leeds Centre, Wis., on 

 the same date. During the first five days of April they were reported 

 from Fayette, Mo. ; Ferry, Iowa; Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Ames, Iowa; 

 Grinnell, Iowa; Peoria, 111.; Aledo, 111.; Kockford, 111.; and Durancl, 

 Wis. ; but no regular progression can be traced from the first to the fifth 

 of these days. There was no further advance until April 17 to 20, when 

 they were noted from Fern wood, 111.; Delavan, Wis.; New Cassel, Wis.; 

 Eipon, Wis. ; Eiver Falls, Wis. ; and Lanesboro, Minn. They were seen 

 at Huron, Dak., April 23; Hastings, Minu., April 24; Argusville, Dak., 

 April 25; and Menoken, Dak., May 10. 



In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Elk Eiver, Minn., October 7; 

 at Grinnell, Iowa, November 4; at Iowa City, Iowa, October 11 ; and at 



