Jan., 1913 OUTI^OOK FOR CONSERVING THE BAND-TAILED PIGEON 
31 
In structure the nests are mere platforms of coarse twigs. One now in the 
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology was obtained at Fuller’s Mill, in the San Jacinto 
Mountains, at about 5900 feet altitude. The nest rested on a large limb of a 
black oak, about five feet from the main trunk, and was partly supported on one 
side by a small dead limb. The nest is a frail structure, made mostly of dead 
twigs from pine and oak trees. These twigs are laid crosswise so that there is a 
great amount of interstitial space. The diameter of the mass is about 220 milli- 
meters (814 inches), though several straggling twigs extend far beyond this limit: 
the depth is about 100 millimeters (4 inches). The single egg rested at one side 
of the center of this rude platform. As remarked by Gilman (1903, p. 134) of 
two nests found by him in the San Jacinto Mountains at 6500 feet altitude, it is 
a marvel how the egg can be kept warm enough to hatch, resting on such an airy 
structure at that cool altitude. 
It is believed that both birds take part in incubation. Bendire (1892, p. 127) 
states the period of incubation to be from 18 to 20 days. He states further that 
the young leave the nest about one month after hatching. If we allow one week 
for the selection of nesting site and construction of nest, a total of very close to 
two months is thus devoted to a single rearing. 
Rate of Increase 
In our present study, in which we are seeking for facts upon which to base 
recommendations relative to the proper treatment of the Band-tailed Pigeon so 
as to make it of greatest value to the sportman's interests, perhaps the most im- 
portant thing to determine is the rate of reproduction of the bird. 
Unfortunately the published information in regard to the number of eggs 
laid or young reared consists largely of general statements. At the north, in Ore- 
gon and Washington, there is no doubt but that two eggs not infrequently com- 
pose one setting. We have definite information that in the Willamette Valley 
three nests were found each of which contained two eggs (Bendire, 1892, p. 123). 
On the other hand, Dawson (1909, p. 553) says explicitly: eggs usually one, 
sometimes two. Another report, from Beaverton, Oregon, gives one as the com- 
plement (Woodcock, 1902, p. 28). In Arizona, all reports agree that but a single 
egg is laid. Three specific cases are on record of one egg being found in each 
nest. This is true also of Colorado. 
In California we have heard frequent reports to the effect that two eggs are 
commonly laid. As shown from the accompanying table, so far as definite ac- 
counts are available, but a single egg was the full nest complement in all cases 
but one. If two eggs are laid it can thus only be in exceptional instances, so rare 
as to be ignored in deductions concerning rate of increase. The occasional ex- 
tra egg might well be considered as offset by desertions of nests, or disasteis from 
other causes. In no case has more than one squab been found in a nest, though 
the data is confessedly limited. 
The egg-laying season of the pigeon is restricted at all latitudes to the sum- 
mer months. This, as shown on previous pages, is probably correlated with the 
fact that the bird repairs to the Transition life zone for the breeding season, 
which, whether at sea level in the north or on mountain ranges at the south, pre- 
sents inhospitable climatic conditions at other seasons. In fact, the birds them- 
selves undergo an annual migration, latitudinal at the north, vertical at the south. 
In the state of Washington, according to Dawson (1909, p. 555) the pigeons 
arrive at the latitude of the Columbia River in April and depart in October or 
November ; they arrive at Blaine, near the British boundary, the first week in May 
