The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-03-25

the passenger pigeon. and
finds with 1t the nesting
birds. In order to get the
reward the person who makes the dis
: G very must leave the nest and the
birds unmolested and prove the truth Of
It by making a 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 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
its 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.
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 non-migratory
life. This tale also proved to be en-
trely fictitious.
In all parts OF the southern states in
the winter seasons there are people
watching sharp-eyed for a glimpse Of
the bird that once was a common sight.
In the summer sharp eyes OF the north
are constantly on the alert for the same
nnTnORQ O. mr. Qnth hnnff
has been received that the bird of mys-
terious 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
Orn1thologtsts' 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 as ever In tracing reports of the
b1rds temperance to their sources
The offer Of $40O for the discovery of
nesting pair of the pigeons and their
undisturbed nest comes from Clifton R.
Hodge OF Clark university. but 500 ad.
ditional will be paid for the discovery
OF pair Of birds and their nest IL found
In the state of Illinois. The additional
reward is the Joint offer of Mr.. Deane
and, as l remember it, of Professor Wbitma
the University Of Chicago
one OF the most curious features of
search for the wild pigeon Is the mistakes N
are made constantly by men who years
trapped the pigeons and were as familiar
their appearance as they were and are I
for that matter, with the appearance of the
mon robin of the dooryard. Reports have .
in from all sections of the country of the
pearance of the pigeon, but on investigate
invariably has been found that the discoy,
had seen nothing more nor less than the
mon wild dove (venaidura macroura). or mt
ing dove, which Is SO familiar a bird I'll,
seems almost impossible that any man of
countryside could have failed to overlook
his constant neighbor and could confuse it
Its much larger cousin, the passenger pigeo
other days.
To give an example OF how the search is
Quoted for the wild pigeon and how conscien
are the scientists in attempting to verify re,
OF its temperance this one instance, taken
q hundred instances, may be noted. Recent
report from northern Michigan reached the q
dent Of the Illinois Audubon society that
passenger pigeon in very truth had reappe
in the vicinity of a club house frequented
fishermen and gunners, many of whom
known the pigeon well in the old days and
were certain that in this case they could
be mistaken as to the identity of the bird
itors.
1t was long Journey to the northern M
gan club house. but an ornithologist under
the trip believing in his heart that finally
passenger pigeon had been found. for he
that the men who had made the report had
familiar with the bird In the old days and
posedly knew the appearance Of its every feat
At the end Of the journey he was told that
pigeons were there and he was led out to
them. They proved to be mourning dove
bird common in nearly all parts of Mich
and in most Of the states of the Union The
appointment was keen. and keener in this
because this was one report which seemes
have about 1t every mark Of truth
When l was q boy knew the wild pi,
fairly we'll 1t was nothing like as abun
as 1t had been in the years gone by, but q
sionally small hocks were seen in the vicinit
my birthplace in the foothills OF the Adiront
mountains in central New York am sorr
say that shot some Of the birds before
realized the value Of giving protection to a
ishing race. The mourning dove know a.
as know the English sparrow. and think
there 10 no chance Of confusion in my mind
specting the identity Of the dove and its bill
relative the pigeon. It IL possible, though l
not sure that such IL q fact that saw the