SYSTEMATIC POSITION OP CERTAIN UING-DOVES. 193 



The black streak in front of the eyes is not mentioned by Brissonor by Temminck. 

 Possibly the Turtur torquatus senegalensis of Brisson is not the T. viyiaceus of 

 Salvadori. 



Linne^* on Columba risoria {collared turtle). — 



"Brown, beneath Rrcy-C'larct: rrown f>;rey; black crescent on tlie neek above fliehind'), spotted 

 (bordered) witli white; hiti'ial tail leathers black, spotted (tipped) with while. Inliabits Europe 

 and India; huwr than tlie Tuitle-ilnve [T. turtur). Bill blackish; iiides red; l„Hly beneath white; 

 rump and quill feathery'" grey-brown; tail cinereous, the lateral feathers tipped with white." 



Buff on. ^'^ — ^The blond ring-dove was regarded by Buff on as a race or a variety of 

 the tj^pe represented in the common turtle of Europe {Turtur turtur). 



"In the species of the turtle, we recognize two races or constant varieties: the first is the 'com- 

 mon turtle,' the second is called the 'collared turtle,' because it bears upon the neck a soi't of black 

 collar. Both are found in our clime, and when mated together they produce a hybrid. The one 

 described by Schwenckfeld, which he calls Turtur mixtus,^'' came from a male common turtle and a 

 female collared turtle, and took after the mother more than the father. I do not doubt that these 

 hybrids are fertile, and that they return to the raceof the mother in the course of some generations." 



Selby^^ on the collared turtle {Turtur risorius). — The following synonomy refer- 

 ences and descriptions are given by Selby: 



" Columba risoria, Auct.; Turtur torquatus Senegatensis, Briss., I, p. 124, t. II, f. I;Colunibe 

 blonde, Temm., Pig., I, p. 323; Tourterelle a collier. Buff., PI. Enl., No. 244 ; Boiiard el Corbie, 

 Monon. des Pigeons, p. 236, pi. 25. 



"From a very remote period this species appears to have been domesticated, or rather kept in 

 that state of capfi\ ity in which it is retained at the present day; for there is every reason to suppose 

 that the turtle-il(i\ c a(hiiied to in Holy Writ may be referred to the same bird, as it is still abundant 

 in Egypt and other parts of the East, where it is fostered and cultivated with care, and it is certain 

 that many of the representations in the works of ancient art, where the dove figures as the emblem 

 of tenderness and affection, or where it is depicted as the appropriate attendant of Venus, are accurate 

 delineations of the collared or domestic turtle. 



"This bird does not appear to be susceptible of that attachment to its home or place of birth 

 for which the common or dove-cote pigeon is remarkable, and which peculiar quality renders that 

 species so serviceable to man. On the contrary, like its congener the common or wild European 

 turtle {Turtur communis) ,^^ it can not be left to range at perfect liliert}- without the danger of its 

 flying away to return no more, and must therefore be kept constantly confined either in cages or 

 in aviaries adapted for that purpose. In this state; of capti\ity, if projierly attended to, it breeds 

 with facility, sometimes producing as many as 8 broods within the yeai-; but, being a native of warm 

 climates, and very impatient of cold, it is seldom eiillivaleil to the same extent in this country as 

 it is in those where the temperature is better adapted to its constitution. The male shows great 

 tenderness and affection to his mate, and is constantly by her side, soothing her with caresses or 

 paying court by soft cooing notes, and that peculiar cry so expressive of laughter, and from which 

 it takes its specific name. 



"In its wild or natural state it is found in various parts of Africa, and we have by us specimens 

 from the southern part of that continent, a description of which, as varying in depth and intensity 

 of color from the domestic variety, is here subjoined.^" 



"Syst. Nat. (translation by Turton of last edition by Gmelin, London, 1806, p. 478). 



'^ These feathers in T. vinaceus, according to Linne (p. 474) are "edged with whitish." Brisson describes the 

 edges of the same feathers ns"hl;inc sale"; Solhy fji, 172) ns "gff-yish-wliiti'." Snlvndnri (p. 429) says, "All the quills 

 with narrow light ciljics." Itcii'henliacli i'l';nil"ii, IsiVJ, p 711 i -:i\^ i Im i IhVI ,Ii^i iiiL;iii-,liiiig mark is "die auffallend 

 weissen Saurae dcr Si'liwiiiiini." 'tins cliMrncln-, ;i^ (Ic-icnhnl li\ nm-i .iiiiIhim, woiil.l net stand in the way of Tem- 

 minck's view that this sijecics re|ircsciits the t \ |ii- of T. ri.-inrais. Tlii' ■■,sirc:ilv of lilai-k" in front of the eye, however 

 f()rl)ids this identification. 



'« Hist. Nat. Gis., II, p. 550, 1771. 



'■' Theriotrop. Sil., p. 305. 



'« P. J. Selby, The Nat. Hist, of Pigeons, Vol. V of the Naturalists Library, Edinburgh, 1835. 



" That is, Turtur luHur. 



■" This was probably SI. mnaceus. 



