178 TURTLE DOVE. 



Deep mourns the Turtle in sequestered bower. 



B^xTTm— Minstrel. 



The Turtle Dove is common throughout the villages, hedge- 

 rows, and small coppices of Herefordshire, but is more frequently 

 heard than seen, being shy in its habits, and inconspicuous in its 

 plumage. Consequently it is much less known than most birds 

 that are equally common ; and even when seen, it is frequently not 

 recognised. It is a spring visitant from Africa, as welcome as the 

 Cuckoo, though far less demonstrative ; and it is one of the birds 

 whose numbers seem to be increasing year by year. It is the least 

 mischievous of all the Pigeon tribe. Its food consists chiefly of 

 seeds of various weeds, green leaves, such as of clover and vetches, 

 and grain when it becomes ripe. It has been accused of eating the 

 soft, milky grain from the ears of green wheat, but this has never 

 been proved. Mr. Johns mentions an instance, indeed, in which 

 two Turtle Doves were shot when rising from a green w^heat-field, 

 but their crops were found to be distended with the green seed- 

 vessels of the corn-spurrey ( SpergiUa arvensis), so common in 

 corn-fields, and " the heart of the slaughterer was smitten." In 

 point of fact, the Turtle Dove may be considered rather more of 

 a friend than an enemy to agriculture. 



The Turtle Dove has ever been regarded as the emblem of 

 peace, of love, and of constancy. Among Christians it has received 

 a far higher meaning, as an emblem of the Holy Spirit : and the 

 Dove bearing an olive-branch in its mouth, which brought to Noah 

 the welcome intelligence that the Flood was abating, has been 

 accepted as the symbol of peace and reconciliation. 



Art thou the bird that saw the waters cease? 

 — Yes, and brought home the olive-branch of peace, 

 Thenceforth I haunt the woods of thickest green, 

 Pleased to be often heard and seldom seen. 



Montgomery — Birds. 



In heathen times, the Dove was regarded as sacred to Venus ; 



and as such it was engraved on gems, or rings, and on seals, for 



gifts of affection. Poetical references to the Dove abound in all 



tongues and languages. Shakespeare constantly alludes to it. 



By the simplicity of Venus' Doves. 



Shakespeare — Mid. JY. Dream /., 1. 



