284 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



number, and pure white. The first brood of young 

 are generally able to take care of themselves by the 

 third week of June, and flock together in search of 

 food in our pea- and clover-fields. The Turtle-Dove 

 appears to us to be almost omnivorous as regards the 

 vegetable productions of our district, but is certainly 

 more beneficial to the farmer than either of the two 

 last-described species, as we have found the crops of 

 several of this species killed in September entirely 

 filled with the seeds of various weeds, and twice have 

 found the remains of small snails and caterpillars 

 amongst the mass of vegetable matter. 



The flight of this Dove is swift and very graceful, 

 and its note, though not musical, is pleasant and 

 suggestive of summer. We had more than usual of 

 this species during the summer of 1883 ; the last 

 seen by us was on September 28th, but, as a rule, 

 they leave us before the middle of that month. The 

 Turtle-Dove is more or less abundant in all parts of 

 Europe with which we have any acquaintance, 

 and is one of the birds which most commonly 

 alight wearied, at the season of migration, on the 

 rigging of vessels in the Mediterranean. In our own 

 country this bird is gradually extending its breeding- 

 range northwards ; but, according to the 4th edition 

 of Yarrell's ' British Birds,' the nest has not yet been 

 discovered in Northumberland or over the border. 

 In Andalucia the arrival of the Turtle-Dove is looked 

 for in the spring almost as eagerly as that of the 

 Quail, and parties of shooters sally forth on Sundays 

 and saints' days, equipped in green, and, posting 

 themselves amongst the bushes which fringe the 

 rivers and brooks in that thirsty country, keep up a 

 constant fire upon the passing Doves, which are by 



