Notes on the Passenger Pigeon by W. J. McGee
NOTES ON THE PASSENGER PIGEON, by W. J. MCGEE
Science, n. s., vol. XXXII, no. 835, December 30, 1910, pp. 958-964.
It is not at all probable that ornithologists will regard seriously the statement of Mr. McGee that the Passenger Pigeon is still to be found in abundance in southern Arizona, in the extremely arid desert region between Nogales and Yuma. Had the pigeon sought the seclusion of the desert for a respite from incessant persecution, it is at least probable that some one of the numerous collectors that have explored the region would have secured a specimen at some time. Such has not been the case, nor did the naturalists accompanying the United States Mexican Boundary Survey report their occurrence in that region, though in 1894 they visited the exact spot where Mr. McGee claims to have seen the birds (Tinajas Altas). As he was quite evidently unable to distinguish between the California and Gambel Quails we are probably safe in assuming that he mistook some other species for the Passenger Pigeon.
