DOVES 



191 



The Turtle-Doves are represented in South Africa by four 

 species and one subspecies, only one of which has no black 

 collar on the back of the neck. 



The Bed-eyed Dove (Turtur semitorquatus) has the head 

 grey (cheeks and nape shaded with pink) ; above drabish- 

 brown, and below pinkish-grey, fading into whitish on the 

 chin and blue-grey on the flanks and belly. Bare skin round 

 the eye red. Length, about 13 inches. 



Fig. 106.— Red-eyed Dove'at nest. 



This Dove is fairly common in the Eastern Districts of 

 the Cape and the coastal portion of Natal. Although 

 found in Mashonaland, it has so far not been recorded from 

 the Transvaal. 



The Cape Turtle-Dove (T. capicola) is a well-known and 

 widely-distributed bird in South Africa. It is smaller than 

 the Eed-eyed Dove, is without the red skin round the eye, 



