Note on the Crop Contents of a Nestling Mourning Dove ( Zenaid - 
ura m.acroura) . — The crop contents of a nestling of this species taken at 
Boxford, Mass., on August 12, 1905, were sent to Prof. Beal at Washing- 
ton, and the following interesting report was returned: 
“ Contents of crop and stomach of nestling Zenaidura macroura from Box- 
ford, Mass. 
70 seeds of buckwheat ( Fagopyrum fagopyrum), 40 %. 
3 seeds of smartweed ( Polygonum aviculare), 1.5 %. 
171 achenes of ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisice folia), 12 %. 
17 seeds of blue curls ( Trichostema dichotomum), 2 %. 
17 seeds of a violet ( Viola sp.) 1.25 %. 
89 seeds of Timothy ( Phleum pratense), 3 %. 
836 seeds of green and yellow Foxtail ( Chcetochloa viridis and C. glmica), 
35%. 
1 seed of Paspalum sp. 0.25 %. 
Several fragments of seeds which may be the remains of ‘pigeon milk.’ 2 %. 
Bits of a milliped, 1 %. 
1 snail and fragments of another, 1 %. 
Bits of egg shell, probably from nest, 1 %. 
Animal matter, 3 %. 
Vegetable matter, 97 %. 
Gravel was 10 % of the entire contents. — W. L. McAtee, Dec. 2, 1905.” 
It would seem, therefore, that ‘pigeon’s milk’ does not constitute the 
entire food of the young during their whole stay in the nest. 
As a help in estimating the age of the bird, it may be stated that on 
July 16, 1905, the nest, containing one egg, was found at Boxford, by Mr. 
F. H. Allen. 
The nest was in a white pine, 19 feet from the ground, in a crotch close to 
the main trunk. On July 22, Mr. Allen and I found two eggs in the nest. 
On August 12, one of the adults was seen sitting on the nest, and it did not 
move until Mr. Allen had climbed within four feet of the nest. Then there 
was a sudden avalanche of birds, showing much white in the tails. The 
old bird struck the ground within 15 yards of the tree and disappeared in 
the bushes in the usual wounded-bird style. One of the young birds lost 
itself in the bushes near at hand, while the other remained motionless on 
the open ground within ten yards of the tree. Here it could be discerned 
with great difficulty owing to its coloration. I easily caught the bird, 
and was interested to find its crop, covered mostly with bare skin, bulging 
with solid contents whose analysis has been given above. 
The measurements of the dried skin are: length, 7.10 inches; wing, 4.10 
inches; tail, 2.15 inches. — Charles W. Townsend, M. D., Boston, Mass. 
AU&, XX111, July, 1QQ 
