The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-03-23

covery must leave the nest and the
birds unmolested and prove the truth of
1t by making report and giving the sci
entists an opportunity to verify the case.
Magazine and newspaper articles lit -
orally by the thousands have been writ ~
ten about the disappearance of the
wild pigeons which once, as it Is al
ways put, "darkened the sun with their
flights" The members of the biologi-
cal survey in Washington specially
interested in the subject Of the disap-
pearance of this bird Of passage from
its wild haunts. For years it has been
hoped that nesting pairs might be found
in part of the country and that
with proper protection the bird might
be restored in part at least to it's place
in nature.
Recently there was a 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 flight 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 a nonmigratory
life. This tale also proved to be en-
tirely fictitious
In all parts of the southern states in
the winter seasons there are people
Watching sharp-eyed for 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 as yet no authentic report
has been received that the bird of mys-
ferrous disappearance has revisited the
scenes familiar through the centuries to
Its ancestors.
One OF the scientists most Interested
IN the search for the wild pigeon is
Rutnven Deane, fellow of the American
Orhlthologlsts' 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 tire1ess
today as ever in tracing reports of the
Dlrds temperance to their sources
Inc offer of $500 for the discovery of
nesting pair of the pigeons and their
uho1sturbed nest comes from Clifton r
Hodge OF Clark university, but s100 ad.
ultlohal VIII be paid for the discovery
OF pair oil birds and their nest if found
III the state OF Illinois. The additional
reward is the joint offer of Mr. Deane
and, as remember it, of Professor Whitmo,
the University of Chicago
One of the most curious features 80 =,
search for the wild pigeon is the mistakes whit
are made constantly by men who Years &C
trapped the pigeons and were as familiar wit
.he'r appearance as they were, and are toda
lof that matter, with the appearance of the cor
mon ROBIN OF the dooryard. Reports have rom
IN from all sections of the country of tho re.
pearance OF the pigeon, but on Investigation
.nvallaoly mas been found that the discoyere
had seen nothing more nor less than the cor
mon wild dove (venaidura macroural mr. NOW
ing dove, which is SO familiar a bird that
seems almost impossible that any man Of r.
countryside could have failed to overlook if 3
MS constant nelghbor and could confuse it wit
lts much larger cousin, the passenger pigeon {
other days.
10 give an example of how the search is col
uucted Tor the wild pigeon and how constellation
are the scientists in attempting to verify report
Of It's temperance this one instance taken fro,
hundred instances, may be noted. Recently
report from northern Michigan reached the pres
dent OF the Illinois Audubon society that til
passenger pigeon in very truth had reappeare
In the vicinity of a club house frequented b
hshermen and gunners, many Of whom ha
known the pigeon we'll in the old days and VIII
were certain that in this case they could M
be mistaken as to the identity of the bird vi
itors.
1t was a long journey to the northern Mich
gan club house, but ornithologist undertoo
the trip believing in his heart that finally tn
pigeon had been found for he kne-
hat the men who had made the report had bee
,amiiar with the bird in the old days and su,
oosedly knew the appearance of its every feathe
At the end of the journey he was told that tn
pigeons were there and he was led out to sc
them. They proved to be mourning doves,
bird common in nearly all parts of Michiga
and in most OF the states of the Union The di
was keen, and keener in this cas-
because this was one report which seemed
have about it every mark of truth.
When I was a boy I knew the wild pigeo
,airly we'll 1t was nothing like as abunda1
as it had been in the years gone by, but occf
sionally small focl.s We're seen in the vicinity {
ny birthplace in the foothills Of the Adirondac
mountains in central New York, l am sorry t
say that l shot some of the birds before l full
'ealized the value Of giving protection to var
shing race. The mourning dove know as we
's know the English sparrow, and think tina
here is no chance Of confusion in my mind re
pecting the identity of the dove and it's bigge
elative, the pigeon. 1t is possible. though l ar
lot sure that such is fact, that 1 saw the las
Wild pigeon reported in Illinois. Others ma
AVE been seen since that time within the boz
ers of the state but if SO I have not seen thei
ppearance reported.
o'c tho ~ lot