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142 THE CONDOR Vol. XXII 
nest site, usually from ten to thirty feet away, and remained there on guard 
while the female was sitting, save for the time required to*secure food. Such 
perches were selected in situations that were well shaded from the direct rays of 
the sun during the heat of the day, and when not occupied could be readily lo- 
eated by the collection of ordure, often considerable in quantity, on the ground 
beneath. | 
In early morning White-winged Doves began to call soon after day break, 
and when the sun appeared above the horizon were heard cooing in every direc- 
tion. At this period of the day many males came out to rest on dead limbs in 
openings in the mesquite montes, or flew to more distant perches in mesquites or 
cottonwoods where they basked in the warm rays of the sun. Others chose 
perches in the tops of living mesquites where the thin foliage did not cast an ap- 
preciable shade. In mid-forenoon when the heat became oppressive they retired 
again to protected stations. Males had two distinct songs, that were given with- 
out apparent choice. One of these efforts may be represented by the syllables 
who hoo who hoo-oo’. The first three notes were gruff and abrupt, the last one 
strongly accented and somewhat prolonged. The other song, longer and more 
complicated, may be noted as who hoo, whoo hoo, hoo-ah’, hoo-hoo-ah’, who-oo. 
In this case the song was separated in five parts. The first section was short and 
low, the second louder and almost merged with the third; the third and fourth 
were more musical than the others and were strongly accented on the last sylla- 
ble, while the last part was lower and was more or less slurred. At times the 
doves gave one or the other of these two songs in repetition for long intervals, or 
again alternated them rapidly. The longer song was more varied and pleasing 
to the ear as the other frequently was given in a burring, guttural tone that was 
often unpleasant. In addition to these songs males uttered a low, querulous, mut- 
tered note resembling queh queh-eh that served as a call to the female, or was 
given when squabbling with other males. No females were observed in the act of 
cooing and I was unable to ascertain their notes. Although males did not coo in 
unison the effect produced by hundreds of them calling at the same time was 
remarkable. Save for one or two birds that might chance to be near at hand, 
their notes seemed to come from a distance, and were so blended that it was diffi- 
cult to pick out individual songs. In a large colony the volume of sound pro- 
duced was so great that it carried readily for a distance of a mile and yet the 
tone produced was so soft that it was not deafening when near at hand. On the 
contrary the whole formed an undertone, continuous, and to my ear not unpleas- 
ing, that did not intrude sharply on the senses, of so vague a nature that facul- 
ties perceptive to sound soon became accustomed to it, so that through constant 
repetition it might pass unnoted. Although it filled the air with the same effect 
as that produced by the rushing of water, other sounds, the song of a Redwing 
or a Lucy’s Warbler, the cooing of a Mourning Dove or the stamping of a 
horse, were heard through it clearly even when such noises originated at some 
distance. The effect as a whole was most remarkable and once experienced lin- 
gers long in memory. 
Combats among males were frequent, but these were bloodless battles, as 
the birds merely flapped at one another uttering guttural notes, or when near 
at hand struck quickly with one wing. Often one male was at much trouble to 
drive all others from some trees, and onee I observed one hustle away a pair of 
Mourning Doves that chanced to intrude upon his domain. 
