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Observation on the Speed of the Mourning Dove

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Observation on the Speed of the Mourning Dove.-On September 2, 1942, I had the opportunity of noting the speed of a Mourning Dove (Zenaidzna macroura) while motoring from Merced to Yosemite Valley, California, on the all-year highway. About 10 miles east of Mariposa a Mourning Dove flew in front of the bus. It kept approximately 50 feet ahead of the vehicle and flew in front for a distance of about 100 yards, when it turned to the right and perched on the topmost wire of a barbed wire fence where two other doves were already perched. The bus was traveling 40 miles an hour at this time and did not seem to gain upon the dove while it was flying in front of the vehicle. The wing beat appeared to be slow for the speed the bird was making and the dove did not seem to be in any way fatigued. It appears that the speed of 40 miles an hour is not difhcult for the dove to attain and that a faster wing beat would probably make even higher speeds possible.- WILLIAM V. MAPER, Del Paso Heights, California, October 6,1942.

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