l88 Habits of the White-winged DoV6< 
matured or stalks too short to be bound that fell to the ground 
when cut. As may be imagined the White-wings sought this 
food supply eagerly. They were gregarious in feeding as in 
nesting so that newcomers passing over the grain fields usually 
decoyed to those already on the ground mitil many had gathered 
in one spot. The grain stubble was cut high and afforded the 
feeding bands shelter, as the doves were short in leg 
and walked about with the body bent forward. It was 
often the case that not a bird was seen in looking across a 
field of wheat stubl)le, though several hundred might be 
feeding there under shelter ot the wheat stalks and the low 
leaves thrown up to direct the flow of the water used in irrigation 
while the crop was being grown. White-wings were wary and 
easily alarmed while feeding. At times I crawled up under 
shelter of weeds to watch them at close range. If one of the 
feeding birds happened to observe some slight motion, the 
heads of all were up in an instant and all remained motionless, 
while in a minute or so they usually flew hastily in sudden alarm. 
Where they were shot at they became even more wary. After 
feeding, little groups of White-wings often flew up to rest for a 
time in the shelter of cottonwoods or mesquites. 
Occasionally, when feeding in fields where wheat had not 
been shocked a dove hopped up on one of the bundles of bound 
grain and pecked at the heads of wheat, choosing, preferably, 
those that were short so that they were held firmly by the twine. 
Or a flock of half a dozen dropped down on a shock of wheat 
and fed on the cap sheaves for a few minutes. Usually, 
however, the birds preferred to feed in the more secure cover of 
the stubble and confined their attention to the abundant waste 
grain as long as this was available. When wheat was not 
threshed within a short time after it was cut these doves were 
said to cause serious damage to the grain in the shock. This 
was particularly true in the case of isolated fields that remained 
after the surrounding crops nad been removed. For this 
reason the White-winged Doves were in bad repute among many 
of the ranchers. 
Many hunters claimed that if they were not permitted to 
kill White-wings during the breeding season they would o-et 
