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ECTOPISTES CAROLINENSIS— LINN. 



CAROLINA LONG-TAILED DOVE. 



Carolina Pigeon or Turtle Dove, Columba Carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Columba Carolmensis, Bonap. Syn. 



Carolina Pigeon or Turtle Dove, Nutt. Man. 



Carolina Turtle Dove, Columba Carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Tail consisting of fourteen feathers ; irides ha- 

 zel. Adult male with the bill black ; upper part of head, and hind 

 part of neck and wings, slate blue ; fore neck and breast light 

 purplish-red ; sides of the body and lower wing coverts light blue ; 

 lower parts pale yellowish-white ; legs and feet bright red ; upper 

 parts yellowish-*brown ; lower parts of the hind neck, and sides of 

 the neck, reflecting vivid tints of golden green and crimson; tail 

 feathers long, at their bases dark bluish — toward the end white, 

 which color occupies about one inch on the outer four, diminishing 

 on the next two ; the middle pair longer, of a plain yellowish- 

 brown color the entire length. Length of male twelve inches, wing 

 five and a quarter. 



Female smaller, with the reflections on the neck less brilliant, 

 and the crown faintly tinged with blue. 



During the spring and summer months, the Turtle Dove is very 

 generally distributed over the country. At the North it does not 

 associate in any considerable numbers, being generally seen flying 

 about in pairs. The flight of the Turtle Dove is swift, and accom- 

 panied by a whistling noise, produced by the wings. It alights on 

 fences, trees, or on the ground, and feeds on seeds and berries of 

 various kinds. Its flesh is superior to the preceding species, but 

 not being ranked as game, it is but seldom pursued by sportsmen ; 

 and not disturbing the crops of the farmer, it is but seldom molest- 

 ed. So lender is the skin of this bird, that when shooting it from 

 trees, even a slight fall is apt to so much displace the feathers as 

 to render it unfit for the cabinet ; and by collectors it is considered 

 one of the most difficult birds to preserve. It commences building 



