THE GROUND PIGEONS 2145 



brighter and purer in color. The turtledove, which is a summer visitor to the Brit- 

 ish Isles, where it is one of the latest migrants, not arriving till the end of April or 

 the beginning of May and departing in September, may be distinguished from the 

 three pigeons found in those islands by its smaller size. Shortly after its arrival 

 it commences to build its nest, which is loosely constructed of slender twigs and 

 placed in a thick bush, tree, or dense hedge at no great height from the ground. 

 Two small, creamy- white eggs are laid, and both parents take part in the incubation, 

 which lasts about a fortnight, two broods being sometimes reared in the season. 

 The turtledove is chiefly met with in woods, and is partial to thick coverts and fir 

 plantations, whence its low prolonged coo may be constantly heard, though the bird 

 itself is rarely to be seen, preferring the seclusion afforded by the thick foliage to 

 the outer branches of the trees. Its flight is always extremely rapid, and when 

 among trees it can turn and twist with extraordinary ease and swiftness. It some- 

 times flies great distances in search of food and water, and may be often seen in cul- 

 tivated fields searching for grain and seeds, although seldom in such large flocks as 

 other pigeons. In Britain it is a shy bird, at the slightest sign of danger quickly 

 seeking shelter in the nearest covert. All the five members of the second subgenus 

 (Homopelia), which have the upper wing coverts uniform in color, inhabit Mada- 

 gascar and the adjacent islands. The third subgenus (Streptopelia) , distinguished 

 by having a black collar round the hind-neck, includes thirteen species, but it is un- 

 certain from which of these the domestic turtledove ( T. risorius) has been derived. 

 As an example of this group may be mentioned the Tranquebar dove ( T. tranque- 

 baricus), from Peninsular India, in which the plumage is vinous red, the lower back, 

 rump, and flanks gray, the head, under wing coverts, lower abdomen, and under 

 tail coverts similarly colored but paler, the outer wing coverts darker, the chin 

 whitish, the vinous-red upper parts separated from the gray of the head by a black 

 collar on the hind-neck, and the quills blackish with pale edges. A nearly-allied 

 form ( T. humilis] from the Indo-Chinese countries, is distinguished by having the 

 under wing coverts much darker and of a gray color. In Tenasserim it is found in 

 larger or smaller flocks, very wild and difficult to approach, and keeping to the thin 

 tree and bamboo jungle. These flocks were met with in the vicinity of cultivated 

 land, feeding on the ground, and when disturbed rose together and settled on the 

 same tree, sometimes a leafless one, sometimes one with plenty of foliage. 



The three species of turtledove constituting the fourth group (Spilopelia) are 

 distinguished by having the feathers of the hind-neck forked at the extremity, and 

 black ornamented with two white spots at the tip. The Burmo-Malayan species 

 ( 7! tigrinus} , recognized by the dark brown shaft line on the wing coverts, is the 

 common dove of Tenasserim, and is met with in gardens, fields, and grassy land; 

 in fact, wherever the country is open, but not in the forest or on the higher hills. 

 It is sometimes seen singly, or in pairs, at other times in small flocks or in hun- 

 dreds. The last group (Stigmatopelia) includes two species which ma}' be recognized 

 by having the feathers of the fore-neck forked at the extremity, and black with two 

 rufous spots at the end. They have a wide range, the Senegal turtledove ( T. 

 senegalensis) being found all over Africa, while the brown turtledove (T. cam- 

 bayensis) ranges from Asia Minor to Central India. The former is characterized by 



