I stopped then with the Win-a-ba-go Indians, and was much interested in
seeing them play mog-i-cin. I had heard the fathers explain the game
when a boy, but never saw it before. I call it a gambling game. Certain
it is, when nesting in a wild state, the male goes out at break of day;
returning from eight to eleven he takes the nest; the hen then goes
out, returning from one to four, and takes the nest; then the male goes
out, returning, according to feed, between that time and night.
After the young leave their nests, I have always noticed that a few,
both males and females, stay with them. I have seen as many as a dozen
young ones assemble about a male, and, with drooping wings, utter the
plaintive begging notes to be fed, and never saw them misused at such
times by either gender. Certain it is, while feeding their young they
are frantic for salt. I have seen them pile on top of each other, about
salt springs, two or more deep. I wonder if your friend gives his
birds, while brooding, salt.
Hartford, Mich., Dec. 18, 1896.
Dear Sir:--Yours of December 17th at hand. It is indeed surprising to
me that your place of business is so close to old Fort Dearborn. In
writing you yesterday, I overlooked what you said about the Milwaukee
man's experience with his birds just hatching. I understand they were
young birds. Thirty-two years ago there was a big nesting between South
Haven and St. Joseph on Lake Michigan. About one week after the main
body commenced nesting, a new body of great size, covering hundreds of
acres, came and joined them. I never saw nests built so thick, high
and low. I found they were all young birds less than a year old, which
could be easily explained from their mottled coloring. To my surprise,
soon as nests were built, they commenced tearing them down--a few eggs
scattered about told some had laid; within three days they all left,
moving in a body up the lake shore north. I have had like facts told
me by others who have witnessed the same thing; and therefore conclude
that your friend's experience accurately portrays the habits of these
birds in their wild state.
University of Chicago,
May 30, 1904.
Dear Sir:--I have ten of the wild pigeons; they are from a single pair
obtained by Mr. Whittaker of Milwaukee about twenty years ago. Mr. W.
bred from this pair until he had a dozen or more. I obtained a few
pairs from him, and they bred fairly well for a few years, but lately
have failed to accomplish anything. This season a single egg was
obtained. It developed for about a week and then halted. The stock is
evidently weakened by inbreeding so long. I can give no information as
to time of disappearance. I have sought information far and near. Only
a few birds have been reported the last three years. One was reported
on pretty reliable grounds from Toronto last summer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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