168 THE MOURNING DOVE. 



ently life-long attachment to the female, that, like the Doves 

 in general through all historic times, he is a fit emblem of 

 the domestic affections. Moreover, his solemn, mournful air 

 renders him a fit symbol of the most pensive side of nature. 



The nest of this species, found here late in May, placed in 

 a bush or tree, on the roots of a windfall, on a stump, or on 

 the ground, is generally a slight and loose construction of 

 dry twigs, and perhaps a few rootlets, built in what is called 

 the platform style, so slight that one can scarcely imagine 

 how the eggs can be hatched and the young ones raised on 

 it; and contains two beautiful white eggs, measuring about 

 1.12 x -85. A nest now before me, some two inches or more 

 in thickness, and found in an orchard, is made of neat, 

 crooked twigs, more or less covered with lichens, and very 

 artistically laid. It is finished on the top with fine rootlets, 

 skeleton-leaves, and bits of wool; and is a very gem of its 

 kind, reminding one of some fancy log-cabin. 



The young Doves are well matured before they leave the 

 nest, and sit side by side upon the ordinarily rude affair. 

 At night the old one sits crosswise on them, even when they 

 are quite large, the nest and birds together thus making 

 quite a grotesque pile. 



The diet of these birds is well stated by Wilson, who says 

 they "are exceedingly fond of buckwheat, hemp-seed and 

 Indian corn; feed on the berries of the holly, the dogwood, 

 and poke, huckleberries, partridge-berries, and the small 

 acorns of the live oak and shrub oak. They devour large 

 quantities of gravel, and sometimes pay a visit to the kitchen- 

 garden for peas, for which they have a particular regard." 



The Mourning Doves, or Carolina Turtle Doves, as they 

 are sometimes called, may often be seen dusting themselves 

 in the road; and, at all times, their flight is very noticeable 

 from the sharp whistling noise produced by each stroke of 



