46 BRITISH BIRDS 



The Turtle Dove breeds freely in confinement, not 

 only with a mate of its own kind, but with members 

 of allied species, especially the Barbary Turtle, hybrids 

 with which are not uncommon : Bechstein believed, or 

 said, that these cross-bred Doves were fertile, but the 

 experience of subsequent observers has not borne out the 

 assertion. 



TURTLE DOVKS. 



P \ The food of the Turtle Dove is the same as that of the 

 Ringdove and Stock Dove, and like them it seeks for it on 

 the ground. It is a thirsty creature and is always found 

 near water, whether in pond, lake, or running stream. In 

 confinement they will eat any kind of grain, and should 

 have an adequate supply of green food, while to replace 

 the small snails on which they feed freely, a handful of 

 ants' eggs should be supplied to them now and then, and 

 these they will greedily devour; they will also eat small 

 worms and any kind of little beetles and other insects of 

 a suitable size. 



