258 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



does" is a proverb I am not prepared to dispute in 

 this connection. 



The bird now under consideration is not much more 

 than half the size of the Wood Pigeon, it reaches our 

 shores in the spring, nests and rears its young ones 

 in our midst, and then takes its departure, prudent 

 emigrant that it is, to warmer climes on the very first 

 indication of the approach of our inclement winter. 

 As soon as the first leaves begin to assume the sere 

 and yellow tints of autumn this Dove commences 

 to get ready for its journey, and long before the last 

 remnant of clothing has dropped from the woodland, 

 is warmly ensconced in Egypt, Libya, Nubia, or even 

 in Italy and Spain. 



In confinement the Turtle Dove is very impatient of cold, 

 and about November gets so benumbed and wretched- 

 looking that it has to be, or should be, taken into the house, 

 as I always did with those of which I had possession. 



As in the case of the Wood Pigeon, so in that of 

 the Turtle Dove, ever since reading my Bechstein 

 "in days gone by," I had longed to possess a pair, 

 but many obstacles intervened to prevent the realisation 

 of my desire. Everything, however, it is said, will 

 come to him who waits, and at last I noticed an 

 advertisement in that most useful journal, The Bazaar, 

 Exchange and Mart, and put myself in communication 

 with a person who wished to dispose of one of the 

 birds in question. 



