TURTLE DOVE. 261 



breast cinereous brown ; upper part of the neck inclining to ash ; the spot 

 of changeable gold green and carmine much less, and not so brilliant, 

 tail-coverts brownish slate ; naked orbits slate colored ; in all other 

 respects like the male in color, but less vivid, and more tinged with 

 brown ; the eye not so brilliant an orange. In both, the tail has only 

 twelve feathers. 



Species II. COL V MB A CAROLINENSIS. 



CAROLINA PIGEON, or TURTLE DOVE. 



[Plate XLIII. Fig. 1.] 



Linn. Syst. 286.— C.\tesb. Car. 1, 24.— Buff, ii., 557. PI. Eiil. 175.— La Tourte- 

 relle de la Caroline, Bbisson, i., 110. — Turton, 4T3.— Arct. Zool. n., Ni>. 188.* 



This is a favorite bird with all those who love to wander among our 

 woods in spring, and listen to their varied harmony. They will there 

 hear many a singular and sprightly performer ; but none so mournful as 

 this. The hopeless woe of settled sorrow, swelling the heart of female 

 innocence itself, could not assume tones more sad, more tender and 

 affecting. Its notes are four ; the first is somewhat the highest, and 

 preparatory, seeming to be uttered with an inspiration of the breath, 

 as if the afflicted creature were just recovering its voice from the last 

 convulsive sobs of distress ; this is followed by three long, deep and 

 mournful meanings, that no person of sensibility can listen to without 

 sympathy. A pause of a few minutes ensues ; and again the solemn 

 voice of sorrow is renewed as before. This is generally heard in the 

 deepest shaded parts of the woods, frequently about noon, and towards 

 the evening. 



There is, however, nothing of real distress • in all this ; quite the 

 reverse. The bird who utters it wantons by the side of his beloved 

 partner, or invites her by his call to some favorite retired and shady 

 retreat. It is the voice of love, of faithful connubial affection, for which 

 the whole family of Doves are so celebrated ; and among them all none 

 more deservingly so than the species now before us. 



The Turtle Dove is a general inhabitant, in summer, of the United 

 States, from Canada to Florida, and from the sea-coast to the Missis- 

 sippi, and far to the westward. They are, however, partially migratory 

 in the Northern and Middle States ; and collect together in North and 



* Columba CarolinenaU, Lath. Ind. Orn., p. 613, No. 71. C. Canadetisis f Id. ib. 



No. 72. 



