(36) STREPTOPELIA TURTUR TURTUR (Linn.). 
THE TURTLE-DOVE. 
Columba turtur Linn., Sys. Nat., I p. 284 (1766) (India) ; Latham, Ind. Orn., 
II p. 605. 
Turtur communis Selby, Nat. Lib., Orn., V pp. 153, 171 (1835), descr. nulla ; 
Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV p. 42. 
Turtur vulgaris Eyt., Cat. Brit. B., p. 32 (1836). 
Turtur migratorius Sw., Classif. B., IL p. 349. 
Turtur auritus Gray, List Gen. B., p. 38 (1840); Blyth, Cat. B.M.A.S.B., 
p. 237 (Hume, Lah. to Yark., p. 278; Blanf., E. Persia, II p. 270; 
Scully, Str. Feath., [IV p. 177; id., J.A.S.B., VI p. 86. All these latter 
references apply more properly to the bird which Hartert has separated 
as arenicola). 
Columba afra Webb and Beth., Orn. Can., p. 28. 
Turtur turtur Salvadori, Cat. B.M., XXI p. 397; Sharpe, Hand-List, I p. 77; 
Oates, Cat. Eggs B.M., I. 
Streptopelia turtur Bonaparte (1857); Hart., Jour., Tice., and With., Hand- 
List Brit. B., p. 161. 
Vernacular Name. Turul-ghu (Turki). 
Description.—Adult male. Upper portion of head from fore-head to 
base of hind-neck ashy-grey ; a patch of black feathers on either side of the 
base of the neck, each feather edged with white, the white and black forming 
regular streaks in the living bird ; upper-back pale brown, but varying much 
in tone and with the grey of the neck sometimes encroaching into the inter- 
scapulars ; lower-back, rump, and upper tail-coverts ashy-brown, in some 
cases more grey than in others, more especially on the lower-back and sides 
of the rump. Central tail-feathers brown, very narrowly tipped with white 
or fawn-white; remaining tail-feathers slaty-black with a broad terminal 
band of white and the outermost pair with the whole outer web white also. 
Scapulars, lower and inner median coverts and innermost secondaries brownish- 
chestnut or cinnamon, with bold black centres divided from the outer colour 
by faint intermediate lines of grey; remaining coverts grey; quills brown, 
narrowly edged with whitish and the outermost secondaries more ashy at 
their bases ; chin, sides of head and throat pale vinous, albescent on the chin 
and often rather fulvous on the throat, gradually changing to deep vinous 
on the breast, and again changing to white on the centre of the abdomen, 
vent, and thigh-coverts; under tail-coverts pure white. Under wing-coverts, 
axillaries, and flanks dark dove-grey. Under aspect of tail black with broad 
terminal band of white. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris orange, orange-red, red or orange-brown ; 
eyelid reddish-brown and orbital skin still more purple ; legs and feet purple 
or reddish-purple, paler on the soles and with the claws horny-black ; bill 
greyish or slaty-black, the edge of the gape purplish-red. 
Measurements. Length about eleven inches or rather over. Wing 
6.5 in. (= 165.1 mm.) to 7.2 in. (= 183.9 mm.) ; bill at front about .65 in. 
(= 16.5 mm.), and from gape about .85 in. (= 21.6 mm.); tail 4.5 to 5 in. 
(= 104.3 to 127.4 mm.) ; tarsus about .75 in. (= 19 mm.). 
Female. “The plumage less bright and pure” (Salvadori). 
I cannot discriminate in any way between the two sexes in plumage, 
and eee highest coloured bird in the British Museum Collection is sexed 
as a female. 
