Zenaidura macroura 
1892. Mass . 
Sept. II. Concord .- fully feathered. No signs of the old birds although 
I watched for sometime. 
Sept. 13 
. Visiting the Dove's nest in the cedar at 4.15 P.M. I found 
the two young still in or rather c>n it for the nest has long been 
trampled into a shapeless platform of twigs.. Both birds were 
standing erect on their legs (heretofore they have always crouch- 
ed or squatted on their bellies) with heads and necks stretched 
up. Their erect attitudes and alert, wary expression, together 
with the fact that, as I approached, I could see that all the dow 
had disappeared from their heads and that their plumage appeared 
to be perfected, prepared me in a measure for what folio-wed al- 
though it was still a surprise. When I was within two or three 
yards of the tree one bird started and gathering headway by a few 
vigorous strokes of the wings, which produced a clapping noise 
similar to that made by domestic Pigeons, it darted off with all 
the apparent ease and swiftness of an old bird and was soon lost 
to sight behind a pine around which it curved sharply. The other 
young bird immediately followed taking exactly the same course. 
Beyond the pine behind which I lost them, was open ground for 
thirty or forty yards and on the further side of this pitch pine 
woods in which they doubtless found concealment. The total dis- 
tance flown was fully 100 yards. Both birds were still rising 
when I saw them last. There was not the least hesitation or 
feebleness in their flight. When it is consideredthat this must 
