192 INHERITANCE, FERTILITY, AND SEX IN PIGEONS. 



burst of laughter. He gives besides, a plaintive note, but one which is not disagreeable 

 and which may be rendered by the syllables kukuruku. 



"The Blond Dove, like many other birds, is liable to take a wholly white color. In this 

 condition it would be easy to confound the species with the true WTiite Dove, which is 

 always of this color; but it will suffice to say here that, without taking note of the size or 

 form of these birds, which differ considerably, it is nevertheless easy to distinguish the 

 White Blond Dove. In addition to the facts that the whole mantle and the wing-coverts 

 always preserve in this bird a delicate isabelline tint, and the proximal parts of the tail 

 feathers are of a more grayish tone, it is still further distinguished by small feathers which 

 form the collar, these always being shaded towards the tip with a tint less white." 



As the collared turtle of Senegal, figured and described by Brisson, has been 

 pointed out by Temminck in the above-quoted remarks as the "type" of the blond 

 dove, Brisson's^' description is here given in full: 



"La Tourterelle a Collier du Senegal — Turlur torquatus senegalensis.^^ Columba superne griseo- 

 fusca, inferiie sordide alba; remigibus fuscis, oris exterioribus sordide albican tibus; coUo superiore 

 torque nigro cincto. 



" It is nearly of the size of the merle. Its length, from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail, 

 is nine inches and six lines; to the end of the toe-nails, seven inches and eight lines. The beak, from 

 the tip to the angle of the mouth, is nine lines long; the tail, three inches; the tarsus (pied) nine lines; 

 the middle of the three anterior toes including the nail, ten lines; the lateral toes are a little shorter, 

 and the hind toe still more so. The wings closed extend to about half the length the tail. The head, 

 the neck and the breast incline to a vinous color, slightly browner on the upper parts of the head and 

 neck. The back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and wing-coverts, are grayish-brown. The abdomen, 

 the sides, the legs, and tlie Idwci- cdvcrts of the tail are (jf a, dirty white. The under wing-coverts are 

 ashy. The flights, primaries a-; wrll as scininlaiios, are lilackish-brown with whitish edges (blanc 

 sale). The two central tail-feat hcis are u;rayisli-lirc)\vn, and the lateral ones are black for about two- 

 thirds their length, then gray to the end; the outer web of the outer feathers of each side, also gray. 

 The upper part of the neck bears a black collar about three lines in witlth. On the sides of the neck 

 this collar ascends a little towards the head.'^ The beak is blackish, feet red, nails brown. It is 

 found in Senegal, from which country it was sent to Reaumur by Adanson." 



The uncolored figure of this pigeon, given by Brisson (drawn and engraved by 

 Martinet, probably from a mounted skin), is too characterless a picture to serve for 

 identification. The shape and proportions of the head and beak would never 

 suggest close affinity with the common blond dove. The description, although 

 inadequate, when supplemented by the observations of Le Vaillant and Thunberg 

 on the voice and the behavior (as reported by Temminck), certainly seems to support 

 Temminck's identification of it as the common blond ring. The habit of giving a 

 laughing coo after every change of position is so characteristic of the blond ring- 

 dove that it may be taken as very reliable evidence of close consanguinity. Brisson 

 offers no suggestion on this point. The black streak in front of the eye is an obstacle, 

 however, to identifying it w^ith St. risoria. The light edges of the quills is a much 

 less important distinction, as it applies to many species, and varies much even 

 within the same s])fcios. Tlic Japanese ring-dove, so far as form, size, and color are 

 concerned, might be the real wild species of St. risoria; but its voice differentiates it 

 and makes identification impossible. 



" Brisson, Omithologie, vol. i, 17G0, pp. 124-125, pi. xi, fig. 1. 



'"- We think this may, or may not, be the Turlur vinaceus as listed by Salvadori (p. 428). 

 '^ This is a peculiarity unknown in any other turtle-dove and possibly tlie appearance liere noted was due 

 feathers pulled out of place in the specimen described. 



