The Band-tailed Pigeon 
that the Pigeons visit newly planted oat-fields and gather grains scattered 
upon the surface. Such grain, as Mr. Jewett points out, would not mature 
anyway; and since the birds neither scratch nor delve, the damage done 
is immaterial. It is another case of hunting excuses. 
In feeding upon the 
ground the birds alight 
in rather close order and 
proceed in one direction. 
Those in the rear, soon 
finding the ground en¬ 
tirely bare of food, rise, 
pass over their fellows, 
and settle in the line*of 
advance. In this way 
there is a continuous 
movement of birds pass¬ 
ing forward, and the 
general effect is of a 
feathered roller advanc¬ 
ing slowly over a field. 
Acorns are the chief ob¬ 
ject of pursuit, and of 
these, by preference, 
such as have fallen upon 
the ground. These 
acorns are bolted whole, and the sizes which the greedy gullets can 
accommodate are mildly astonishing. After a good fill-up, the birds 
retire en masse to some exposed tree-top where they can mount guard 
against surprise attacks as well as ruminate and fatten. 
As the season advances, the pigeons lay various forms of berries 
under tribute. Elderberries are favorites everywhere. In a little valley 
near Eureka I saw pigeons stripping the berries off an elderberry bush 
which grew hard against the cook-house of a lumber camp. 
In the northwestern counties the fruit of cascara sagrada (Rhamnus 
purshiana) is eaten with great avidity; and to a lesser extent the coffee- 
berry ( Rhamnus californica ) in the coastal ranges. Huckleberries of 
every sort are staples of Columbine diet, with salal berries, salmon berries, 
and madrones in due course. Manzanita berries, whether green or ripe, 
are eaten at any season. Under stress the birds will also consume the 
less nutritious Christmas berry ( Ileteromeles arbutifolia). In fact no 
edible berry or fruit is overlooked. In early spring, when other suste¬ 
nance fails, these pigeons will resort to “browse,” selecting oftenest the 
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