Life Histories of Various Species 
195 
with absolute indifference by both birds, the team often passing 
down the row next to the nest without disturbing the sitting 
bird. At an alarm, however, both birds flew about the field 
unless the intruder persisted in approaching the nest. In such a 
case one of the birds dropped to the ground near the person, 
invariably on the side away from the nest, and fluttered about 
apparently in the greatest distress. The attitude most frequently 
assumed was as follows : one wing was held extended over the 
back, the other beat wildly about in the dust, the tail feathers 
were spread and the bird lay flat on the ground constantly giv- 
ing a wild alarm note. This performance continued until the 
observer came very near when the bird would rise and run along 
the ground in a normal manner or at most with one wing 
dragging slightly as long as pursuit was continued. If the ob- 
server turned back toward the nest, however, these actions were 
immediately repeated. When the parents had succeeded in 
luring the intruders about one hundred yards they seemed to be 
satisfied as they then flew away. However, the above actions 
could be witnessed indefinitely by returning to the nest after 
being led away. 
The young were very active and exceedingly adept at hiding 
almost as soon as they were out of the shell. Their mottled 
coloring rendered them almost invisible when they squatted in 
the rough ground of the cornfield. They remained in the vicinity 
of the nest until July 16, after which the parents led them to the 
shores of a near-by pond. 
The Feeding of Nestling Mourning Doves 
( Zenaidura macroura carolmensis ) 
During the spring and summer of 1915 the writer, while 
engaged in studying the habits and behavior of nestling birds, 
erected blinds at several nests of the Mourning Dove in an effort 
to learn something of the feeding activities. With one exception 
these attempts were largely failures. In central Iowa, where 
this work was undertaken, nearly every farm yard had its quota 
of these birds nesting in the groves and consequently no difficulty 
was experienced in finding nests to observe. 
Although the first blind was erected on June 2, and such 
time as could be spared from other duties spent in watching 
this nest, no results were secured. A second nest was tried 
with similar results, but better fortune attended the third at- 
tempt. 
