12 PIGEON TRIBE. 



By the first fine days of the early Southern spring we hear 

 from the budding trees of the forest, or the already blooming 

 thicket, the mournful call of the Carolina Turtle Dove, com- 

 mencing as it were with a low and plaintive sigh, a'gh coo coo 

 coo, repeated at impressive intervals of half a minute, and 

 heard distinctly to a considerable distance through the still 

 and balmy air of the reviving season. This sad but pleasing 

 note is also more distinguished at this time, as it seeks the 

 noon-day warmth in which to utter its complaint, and where it 

 is now heard without a rival. 



The flight of this species is rapid and protracted, and, as 

 usual in the genus, accompanied by a very audible whistling 

 noise ; the birds fly out often in wide circles, but seldom rise 

 above the trees, and keep out near the skirt of the forest or 

 round the fences and fields, which they visit with considerable 

 familiarity, gleaning after the crop has been removed, and sel- 

 dom molesting the farmer except by now and then raising up a 

 few grains in sowing time, which may happen to be exposed too 

 temptingly to view. The usual food of this species is various 

 kinds of grain and small acorns, as well as the berries of the 

 holly, dogwood, poke, whortle, and partridge berries, with 

 other kinds according to the season. In the nuptial period 

 the wide circling flight of the male is often repeated around 

 his mate, towards whom he glides with wings and tail expanded, 

 and gracefully alights on the same or some adjoining tree, 

 where she receives his attentions or fosters her eggs and infant 

 brood. On alighting, they spread out their flowing train in a 

 graceful attitude, accompanying the motion by a clucking and 

 balancing of the neck and head evincing the lively emotion 

 and mutual affection they cherish. When the female now con- 

 fines herself to her eggs, her constant mate is seen feeding her 

 with a delicate and assiduous attention. 



The roosting places preferred by the Carolina Turtle Doves 

 are among the long and unshorn grass of neglected fields, in 

 the slight shelter of corn-stalks, or the borders of meadows ; 

 they also occasionally seek harbor among the rustling and fall- 

 ing leaves, and amidst the thick branches of various ever- 



