BAND-TAILED DOVE. 
313 
are represented two adult birds, placed on the branch of a superb species of 
dogwood, discovered by my learned friend Thomas Nuttall, Esq., when 
on his march towards the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and which I have 
graced with his name ! The beautiful drawing of this branch was executed 
by Miss Martin, the amiable and accomplished sister of my friend Dr. 
Bachman. Seeds of this new species of Cornus were sent by me to Lord 
Ravensworth, and have germinated, so that this beautiful production of the 
rich valley of the Columbia river may now be seen in the vicinity of London, 
and in the grounds of the nobleman just mentioned, near Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne. Mr. Townsend’s notice respecting the bird here spoken of is as 
follows : — 
“ The Band-tailed Pigeon is called by the Chinook Indians ‘ akoigh homin’ 
It ranges from the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains across to the 
Columbia river, where it is abundant. It arrived in 1836 in very great 
numbers, on the 17th of April, and continued in large flocks while breeding. 
Their breeding places are on the banks of the river. The eggs are placed 
on the ground, under small bushes, without a nest, where numbers congre- 
gate together. The eggs are two, of a yellowish white colour, inclining to 
bluish-white, with minute white spots at the great end. These pigeons feed 
upon the berries of the black elder and the buds of the balsam poplar. When 
sitting in the trees, they huddle very close together in the manner of the 
Carolina Parrot, and many may be killed at a single discharge of the fowling- 
piece. The flesh is tender and juicy, and therefore fine eating.” 
Mr. Nuttall has favoured me with an equally interesting notice. “ This 
large and fine Pigeon, always moving about in flocks, keeps in Oregon only 
in the thick forests of the Columbia and the Wahlamet, and during the 
summer is more particularly abundant in the alluvial groves of the latter 
river, where throughout that season we constantly heard their cooing, or 
witnessed the swarming flocks feeding on the berries of the elder tree, those 
of the Great Cornel ( Cornus JYuttalli), or, before the ripening of berries, 
on the seed-germs or the young pods of the balsam poplar. The call of this 
species is somewhat similar to that of the Carolina Dove, but is readily dis- 
tinguishable, sounding like a double suppressed syllable, as h ’koo, h ’koo, 
h ’koo, h ’koo, uttered at the usual intervals, and repeated an hour or two at 
a time, chiefly in the morning and evening. They are said to breed on the 
ground, or in the low bushes, but I did not find the nest, although I saw the 
birds feeding around every day near Watpatoo Island. During the whole 
of this time they keep in flocks, either in the poplars or elder bushes, and 
on being started, sweep about like flocks of domestic pigeons, soon returning 
to their fare, when they feed in silence, keeping a strict watch for intruders. 
They remain on the lower part of the Columbia nearly the whole year, late 
Vol, IV. 43 
