130 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



and becoming quite rare in the north and west. Into 

 these regions, however, it is now spreading. To Scot- 

 land it is an uncommon migratory visitor, notably to 

 some of the outlying isles, and it may have nested in 

 the south-west. There are a few nesting records for 

 Ireland, where the species is on the increase as a spring 

 migrant. 



In nesting habits the Turtle-Dove differs but slightly 

 from the Pigeons of the typical group. The species is 

 arboreal, and the nest in a tree or bush is a slight 

 platform of twigs ; but the bird has been known to 

 occupy the old nest of a Rook. The eggs are two in 

 number, as in the case of the other Pigeons, but differ 

 in being slightly pointed at one end, and in being of a 

 creamy rather than a dead white. Both parents take 

 part in incubation, which lasts about a fortnight. The 

 young are of the usual type, and two broods may be 

 reared in a season. 



The Collared Turtle-Dove is a well-known bird often 

 kept in confinement in this country, but a native of 

 some of the countries of the ' Near East.' 



In poetry the name of the bird under discussion is 

 very frequently abbreviated to the rather ambiguous form 

 of 'Turtle.' 



