Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-20
Oh! you white wings!

l am not paging Mr.. White
Wings" the apparition gowned in
white who manipulates the broom
while manicuring the streets, the
sworn enemy Of the little English
sparrow. The bird l have in mind
is the white-winged dove hailing
from the state of Sonora, Mexico,
a winged assembly, or combination
Of mourning dove. passenger or
wild pigeon. with the winged mark
ings Of a hooking bird, whose COO
ing notes are likened to the first
attempts at Growing by a young
rooster. With slender body. elonga-
ted or pointed wings, this bird ap-
partition, when flying. fairly splits
the air. They regularly migrate
between Sonora and Arizona; are
also found in Texas, New Mexico
and southern California. Their mi
grafton. or arrival and departure,
is timed by food conditions at both
ends of the route. They may be
safely scheduled to arrive in the
Salt river valley, near Phoenix,
Ariz., between May l and Is. their
coming due in a measure to cli-
matte conditions. Departing about
Sept. /. or Immediately following
the first cold snap, they leave in a
body for more southern chimes. At
q point where thousands Of birds
were in evidence the day before,
not bird will be found after the
first frosty night.
Reproduction is their slogan i'm
mediately after arrival. Thousands
of nests are constructed in the
mesquite tree, a brush about five
to seven feet high. shabby plat
forms of twigs lined with bits of
weeds, moss and leaves. usually
contain two small white eggs.
Nests are alternately covered by
the male and female. They are
very prolific and a duplication Of
eggs may be found in the nest
every Fl days. The young birds or
lodgings are frequently crowded
from the nest prior to the time
they are able to take wing, that
their successors and kin folks may
be Matched. The Melopelia asia
tica or "white-wings" are larger
than the mourning dove, but small
er than the old-timed passenger
pigeon, now entirely extinct. They
seldom aggregate in large num-
bers, are usually found in pairs,
singles or small flocks Of 30 or less.
They fly with great velocity at var,
led heights. II the advance bird or
leader is killed. the balance of the
flock frequently tumble and turn
milling in circles as they volplane
! to earth, presenting at that time
most difficult shooting. A shot al
a "coasting" bird is considered one
Of the most difficult by expert wing
shots. When feeding field is To-
Gated by the white wings they are
frequently attracted by the thous.
ands. A crop is soon devastated
unless the birds are shot out" re.
+, quiring the work Of many hunters
as they are not easily discouraged
from frequenting or occupying ia.
! vorite feeding grounds.
The milo-maiZe is an especial
delicacy for the Sonora pigeon
There are times when crop preser.
walton by common consent removes
the bag limit It is then a Ques.
ton Of ones ability to rapidly re.
load and select available shots a,
the birds are in constant transit
When the hunters are called upor
! to preserve crops, hundreds o.
birds are killed In q single after.
noon red-letter day for charitable
institutions, as they are bounteons.
ly remembered with the markings
Of a whitening pot-pie.
On tie sFly.Ways.-
The real test Of shooting ability
comes with the successful negotia
ton Of q double on the "fly-way'
Of the Sonoras who follow blaxet
aerial trails Of flight. These fy
ways are about 100 yards wide
leading from their breeding. roost
ing or feeding grounds to tn,
"water-holes." Tho flight frequent
" follows the course Of q dry rivel
bed. ~Their night Is steady and ex
tremely rapid unless they start II
volplane or ooast down to feed o.
water, ut which time the corkscrev
effect 10 IN evidence. II a doubl,
II cut out ut that particular time
tho soattsr gun artist IL entitled I,
honorable mention. Salt river val
ley Is about 20 miles wide and 81
miles long. Near tho base OF Equa-
peak or adjacent to the ella rivel