A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
66 1 
She brings us fish — she brings us spring, 
Good times, fair weather, warmth, and plenty; 
Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling, 
Sheep’s-head and drum, and old wives’ dainty. 
Yo, ho, my hearts ! let’s seek the deep, 
Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her, 
Still as the bending net we sweep ; 
“ God bless the Fish Hawk and the fisher ! ” 
She rears her young on yonder tree ; 
She leaves her faithful mate to mind ’em ; 
Like us, for fish she sails to sea, 
And, plunging, shows us where to find ’em. 
Yo, ho, my hearts ! let’s seek the deep, 
Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her, 
While slow the bending net we sweep; 
“ God bless the Fish Hawk and the fisher ! ” 
Alexander Wilson. 
ORDER COLUMBHi : PIGEONS 
Family Columbidae: Doves and Pigeons 
Mourning Dove : Zenaidura macroura. S. R. 
Length: 12-13 inches. 
Male and Female: General appearance when in the trees, a bluish 
fawn color. Above olive-brown, varying to a bluish gray, neck 
and head washed with metallic tints. Below a dull purplish, 
changing to reddish brown. Two middle tail feathers as long as 
the wings. Bill black, feet lake-red. Female duller. 
Note: A plaintive mournful “ Coo-o, coo-o ! ” 
Season: Once common summer resident, March to November; now 
scarce. 
Breeds: From southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. 
Nest: A few loose sticks, sometimes laid on an old Robin’s nest. 
Eggs: 2 white. 
This is a naturally gentle and confiding bird, but is sub- 
ject to such persecution from the gunners that it is usually 
considered wild and shy. In portions of the country where it 
is seldom molested few birds are less timid in the presence of 
man. During the breeding season, generally May in New 
England, the woods resound with the cooing of the ardent 
and affectionate creatures ; but at other seasons the dove is a 
remarkably silent bird. — Stearns and Cones. 
