Concord, Mass.
1910.
May 23
(No 2)
[May 23, 1910]

Carolina Doves.

The single bird made a continuous, rather hollow, whistling sound
with its wings which I could hear distincly at a distance of
over 100 yards but the other two flew close past us in 
perfect silence. They alighted in a tall tree with the same
remarkable abruptness that is so characteristic of the Passenger Pigeon
checking their great speed only at the last moment, when within
a few yards of the chosen perch, by several peculiarly vigorous
& well pronounced wing strokes. As the single bird passed me
it looked exactly like a Passenger Pigeon and quite as
large, I thought. Indeed for an instant I was thrilled
by the suspicion that it really was a Pigeon & then
I heard the hollow whistle of wings, which, of course
settled the matter the other way. I know of few
more graceful and attractive birds than these Doves,
especially when seen in flight circling over an open
field.