The Band-tailed Pigeon 
Distribution in California. —Breeding locally and in variable numbers in Transi¬ 
tion and timbered Upper Sonoran areas west of the Sierran divide, but chiefly in moun¬ 
tainous districts. The normal winter home of the species, so far at least as the Pacific 
states are concerned, is in northern and interior Santa Barbara County and in Ventura 
County, but their exact distribution at this season depends upon the acorn crop. 
Authorities.—Vigors (Columba monilis), Zool. Voy. “Blossom,” 1839, p. 26, pi. 
10 (Monterey )\ Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds, vol. i., 1892, p. 122 (habits, nest 
and eggs); Gilman, Condor, vol. v., 1903, p. 134 (s. Calif.; habits); Grinnell, Condor, 
vol. xv., 1913, p. 25, map (occurrence in Calif., food, habits, destruction, etc.); Grin¬ 
nell, Bryant and Storer, Game Birds Calif., 1918, p. 575, figs, (general account). 
WE FIND, rather to our surprise, that neither dictionaries nor 
bird-books define a difference as between “pigeons” and “doves.” The 
terms are everywhere treated as synonymous. The case is analogous to 
that of “toadstool” and “mushroom.” The 
mycologist assures us that these two terms 
are absolutely identical, yet popular appre¬ 
hension persists in regarding all poisonous 
mushrooms as toadstools, and in reserving 
the name mushroom for edible toadstools. 
Is there not really a somewhat similar feeling 
in regard to the use of “doves” and “pig¬ 
eons”? I think I voice the popular feeling 
when I define doves as Columbids which, 
by reason of small size, familiarity, gentle¬ 
ness, or other endearing qualities, are not 
properly regarded as ht objects of the chase. 
Pigeons, on the other hand, are those Colum¬ 
bids which, by reason of large size, gre¬ 
gariousness, stolidity, or general default of 
engaging qualities, are chiefly regarded for 
their food value. The term “dove” connotes affection, gentleness, 
purity, and peace. The term “pigeon” means nothing beyond mere 
huntableness, or, by implication, those very qualities of approachability, 
gullibility, and stupidity which play into the hunter’s hand. Pigeons are 
game-birds, and doves are non-game-birds. The writer is willing to 
abide by this definition in so far as it affects this and the succeeding 
species of California birds. 
The Band-tailed Pigeon of the West has been somewhat contused both 
in thought and report with his famous cousin, now extinct, the Migratory, 
or Passenger Pigeon {Edopistes migratorius ), of the East. The two 
species had little in common beyond the senseless confusion of identity. 
While formerly much more abundant than it is now, our western bird 
1154 
