( 3 ) 
Conclusions* 
published reports of dai^iage , in Phoenix newspapers, 
greatly exaggerated. Doves generally distributed over 
llaricopa County but found abnormally numerous in 
two instances ■ — at Arlington and near Phoenix. 
Birds feeding in stubble do no damage. Greatest 
loss, according to reports, occasioned by doves feeding 
on shocl^s and stac-ts standing in the fields. This is 
preventable in two ways: (1) Harvesting wheat with 
header and threshing Pnmediately; or (2), b:^ putting 
shocics into stacks as q^uickly as possible and covering 
with taip^aulins un'^il such time as the grain can be 
threshed. The first method is much the better. Da-mage 
tc standing grain is undoubtedly serious where doves 
are concentrated in large numbers and can be contr6lod 
onl^T by hilling the birds. 
AS damage by doves is local and easily controlled 
there can be no justification for removing protection 
from the breeding birds, as has been proposed. 
He spect fully submitted. 
Ernest G. Holt. 
Assistant Biologist# 
phoenix, Arizona, 
July 28, 1917. 
j 
