By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 165 



disgust of the Arab attendant, whose duty it was to carry the load 

 through a long days march, and under a tropical sun to the Nile 

 boat. The late Mr. Waterton pointed out that the Rock-Dove, 

 though it would freely perch by day, was never known to roost on 

 trees during the night, nor to pass the night in the open air, except 

 in cases of the greatest emergency : showing its natural propensity 

 to retire to holes and caves in the rocks ; hence its great attachment 

 to the dovecot in which it is bred, which it seldom deserts without 

 great provocation. There are instances of the lower stage of 

 church towers, immediately below the bells, having been originally 

 built for a Columbarium ; of which we have one example at 

 Collingbourn in this county, and probably there may be others of 

 which I am not aware. Another instance occurs at the tower 

 adjoining the ruined chapel of Charter House Einton near Bath ; 

 the lower part of which was originally intended for the priest's 

 residence, and the birds dwelt above him. In both these cases the 

 east, north and west sides are Etted up with pigeon holes, and a small 

 square opening in the south wall, admitted the birds. 



" Turtle-Dove." {Colmnba turtur.) This beautiful little species 

 is the only migrant of the family with which we in this county 

 are acquainted. It does not come to us till the beginning of May, 

 and leaves us early in September : but during that short period it 

 abounds in those spots which please its tastes, though it is fastidious 

 in its choice, and is by no means universally distributed. In my own 

 plantations on the downs it is extremely abundant, and its annual 

 appearance in the spring is to me a welcome reminder of approach- 

 ing summer. It is very much smaller than its congeners, has a 

 delicate appearance, and its note is peculiarly plaintive. Like all 

 oihers of the Dove tribe, it flocks in autumn, though seldom in 

 considerable numbers : I have however seen above a hundred feeding 

 together in a corn-field. There is a beautiful legend in Scandinavia 

 respecting the Turtle dove, not unlike that of the Swallow, quoted 

 in a former page from Lloyd's admirable work. "When our 

 Blessed Saviour was crucified, the Turtle dove for a while hovered 

 around the fatal tree, and at length perched there ; when looking 

 mournfully down on the Sufferer, it sighed deeply, and gave utter- 



