22 
USEFUL BIRDS 
The Wild Pig-eon 
ever, to prove this and he dismissed the idea as al)surd.* The 
glory of discovering the existence (if it does exist) of this former 
summer resident still remains for some asiiiring ornithologist. 
ddiere is no need of confusing these two birds. The wild 
pigeon is 16^1 inches long; the ground dove only 11^ inches, 
approximately. The upper jiarts of the former are dove-colored or 
bluish-slate wdth metallic reflections on the sides of the neck of 
the male, while the upper parts of the dove are grayish-brown. 
The nests of both consist of small twigs loosely put together and 
containing in each case two white eggs. 
« 
*In this connection it may be noted that Francis E. Palmer of Stillwater, 
Minn., a student of birds, claims quite emphatically to have observed one of 
these birds on May 31, 1915, near the above named town, which is in the south- 
eastern part of the state. His oijservations were published in “Bird Lore” for 
July-August, 1915, pag'e 289. 
