The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-03-30

birds unmoested and prove the truth OF
It by making report and giving the sci
entists an opportunity to verify the case y
Magazine and newspaper articles lit ~.
orally by the thousands have been writ
ten about the disappearance or the
wild pigeons which once, as 1t is al
ways put, "darkened the sun with their
flights" The members Of the biologi-
cal survey in Washington are specially
interested in the subject of the disap
pearance of this bird Of passage from
it's wild haunts. For years 1t has been
hoped that nesting pairs might be found
In some part of the country and that
with proper protection the bird might
be restored in part at least to its place
In nature.
se Recently there was story published
to the effect that the birds, wearied OF
the constant persecution which met
them in the United States, had changed
the course of their fight and had gone
into Mexico and there were living peace
fully and happily. This story proved to
be absolutely without foundation. Still
another tale was to the effect that the
pigeons had gone into the heart of South
America and there finding conditions
pleasant were leading nonmigratory
life This tale also proved to be
urely fictitious
In all parts of the southern states in
watching sharp-eyed for a glimpse OF
the bird that once was common sight.
In the summer sharp eyes of the north
are constantly on the alert for the same
purpose, but yet authentic report
has been received that the bird of mys-
FERROUS disappearance has revisited the
scenes familiar through the centuries to
It's ancestors.
One of the scientists most interested
In the search for the wild DipeOn ia
Rutnven Deane, fellow of the American
Ornithologists' union and president of
the Illinois Audubon Society for the
Protection Of Wild Birds. Mr.. Deane -
virtually has given up all hope that any
living specimen of the passenger pigeon
ever will be found, but he is as tireless
today ever In tracing reports of the
birds temperance to their sources s.
The offer of $500 for the discovery of a
nesting pair of the pigeons and their
undisturbed nest comes from Clifton R.
Hodge of Clark university, but 500 ad-
dttional will be paid for the discovery
OF pair of birds and their nest if found
In the state of Illinois The additional
reward is the joint offer of Mr.. Deane
aisd. aS remember it, of Professor Whitman c
tive University of Chicago.
One OF the most curious features of til
search for the wild pigeon is the mistakes wbfc
are made constantly by men who years ae
trapped the pigeons and were as familiar wit
their appearance as they WERE and are toda
for that matter, with the appearance of the con
mon robin OF the dooryard. Reports have com
in from all sections of the country of the real
pearance of the pigeon, but investigation
invariably has been found that the discoverel
had seen nothing more nor less than the con
mon wild dove (venaidura macroura), or mourn
ing dove, which Is so familiar a bird that
seems almost impossible that any man OF tn
10 r0NrTd 1nrrn faiI0
his constant neighbor and could confuse 1t wit
it's much larger cousin the passenger pigeon
other days.
To give an example of how the search is col
Quoted for the wild pigeon and how consideration
are the scientists In attempting to verify report
of its temperance this one instance, taken fro1
q hundred instances, may be noted. Recently
report from northern Michigan reached the pres
dent of the Illinois Audubon society that tn
passenger pigeon in very truth had reappeare
in the vicinity of club house frequented b
fishermen and gunners, many OF whom ha
known the pigeon well in the old days and VIII
were certain that in this case they could nc
be mistaken as to the identity OF the bird vi
itors.
It was a long journey to the northern Mich
gan club house, but ornithologist undertoo
the trip believing in his heart that finally tn
passenger pigeon had been found for he kne
that the men who had made the report had bee
familiar with the bird in the old days and SUI
posedly knew the appearance of It's every feathe
At the end of the journey he was told that th
pigeons were there and he was led out to sc
them They proved to be mourning doves,
bird common in nearly all parts OF Mlchiga
and In most of the states of the Union. The Oil
appointment was keen, and keener In this cas-
because this was one report which seemed
have about it every mark of truth.
When / was a boy knew the wild pigeo
fairly we'll 1t was nothing like as abundar
as it had been in the years gone by, but occs
sonaIly small focks we're seen in the vicinity {
nv birthplace in the foothills of the Adrondac
mountains in central New York am sorry
saw that I shot some of the birds before ! full
realized the value of giving protection to val
fishing race. The mourning dove know as we
as know the English sparrow, and | think ths
there is no chance Of confusion In my mind r
specting the identity of the dove and its bigge
relative, the pigeon 1t is possible, though al
not sure that such is fact, that saw the las
wild pigeon reported in Illinois. Others ma
have been seen since that time within the bo
ders of the state, but SO have not seen thel
appearance reported.
At FIVE o'clock on the morning OF late Apr
into r {woa ~