The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-04-01

birds. In order to get the
reward the person who makes the dis
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 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 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
pigeons had gone into the heart of South
America and there finding conditions
pleasant were leading non-migratory
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 a common sight.
In tha 49,
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
Ru,nven 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 as ever in tracing reports of the
birds temperance to their sources.
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.
dltionai 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
land. as remember it. Of Professor Whit
the University of Chicago.
One OF the most curious features
search for the wild pigeon is the mistakes
are made constantly by men who yea
trapped the pigeons and were as famili
their appearance as they were, and ar,
for that matter, with the appearance of L
mon robin Of the dooryard Reports hay
in from all sections of the country of IL
pearance of the pigeon, but on investig
invariably has been found that the disc
had seen nothing more nor less than II
mon wild dove (venaidura macroura), or
ing dove, which is so familiar a bird
seems almost impossible that any man
countryside could have failed to overloc
his constant neighbor and could confuse
its much larger cousin, the passenger ri
other days.
To give an example of how the search
Quoted for the wild pigeon and how consc
are the scientists In attempting to verify
Of its temperance this one instance, TAX
hundred instances, may be noted Re
report from northern Michigan reached IL
dent of the Illinois Audubon society t
passenger pigeon in very truth had req
in the vicinity Of a club house frequel
fishermen and gunners, many of VIII,
known the pigeon we'll in the old days ;
were certain that in this case they &C
be mistaken as to the identity of the
itors.
1t was long journey to the norther
gan club house, but an ornithologist III
the trip believing in his heart that fin
. passenger pigeon had been found for
that the men who had made the report /
familiar with the bird In the old days
posedly knew the appearance of its every
At the end Of the journey he was told
J pigeons were there and he was led GU
them. They proved to be mourning
bird common in nearly all parts of
and in most Of the states of the Union.
: appointment was keen, and keener in I
because this was one report which Sc
have about it every mark of truth.
When l was a boy l knew the will
, fairly well. It was nothing like as
as It had been in the years gone by, |
sionally small focks were seen in the vi
: my birthplace in the foothills of the AID
mountains in central New York. l am
say that ] shot some Of the birds befor
realized the value OF giving protection I
ishing race. The mourning dove know
, as know the English sparrow. and l Il
2 there is no chance of confusion in my
specting the identity of the dove and Il
relative, the pigeon. 1t Is possible, thol
not sure that such IL a fact, that saw
wild pigeon reported In Illinois. 9th
have been seen since that time within
ders of the state, but II 30 I have not s
appearance reported.
At five o'clock on the morning of a l
lay. fifteen years ago, went into Line