CA TURTLEDOVE. 



low and plaintive, and the nest is a structure 

 resembling that of the true pigeons. Their food 

 is also similar, consisting* of various grains and 

 seeds, at least during their visit to this country, 

 elsewhere it is probable some green food may be 

 in part resorted to. We have once or twice re- 

 ceived the young birds from the south, but was 

 never successful in preserving them alive over the 

 ensuing spring ; at first they are easily tamed and 

 thrive well, but at the time of migration they 

 became restless, and drooped ere the spring again 

 advanced. 



Crown blueish-grey ; back of the neck and upper 

 part of the back wood-brown, the same colour 

 extending to the lower part of the back, rump, 

 and upper tail-covers, the feathers on the last 

 being grey at the base; scapulars and covers 

 black, passing into grey, deeply edged with ru- 

 fous orange ; edges of the shoulders and first lesser 

 covers, blueish-grey ; quills, brownish-black ; tail 

 is blackish-grey, tipped with white, except the 

 centre feathers, which are entirely clove-brown ; 

 at the separation between the white tips the 

 blackish-grey becomes deeper, and sometimes in- 

 dicates an indistinct bar ; on looking at the tail 

 from below, the dark part appears uniform black, 

 and contrasts finely with the pure white extremi- 

 ties of the feathers, together with the outer web 

 of the exterior feather, which is also white. The 

 fore part of the neck, breast, and belly, shading 

 gradually into the vent, are dull brownish crimson- 



