14. FAMILIAR hi LI) BIRDS. 



pleasing list of excellences, it must be confessed that 

 at times the deportment of the Turtle Dove in cap- 

 tivity is subject to some considerable variations. In 

 an aviary it frequently becomes quarrelsome and apt 

 to bully and drive the smaller birds away from their 

 food ; and even when more than a pair are kept tog-ether 

 without any other sorts of birds violent quarrels will 

 take place between them, and the weaker bird is often 

 subjected to harsh and unneiglibourly treatment. 



Owing to the fact that the Turtle Dove is more generally 

 ke_pt in confinement than any otiier member of the large 

 family to which it belongs, it is much better^ known as 

 a domestic _pet than as a Familiar Wild Bird. Indeed, 

 as a wild bird it is not so frequently seen or so commonly 

 known as may be imagined. Turtle Doves are of entirel}' 

 migratory habits, travelling to us from the African 

 Continent, and also visiting many of the European coun- 

 tries. They make their appearance with us about the 

 beginning of !May, although the forwardness or otherwise 

 of the spring affects their movements to a great extent, 

 and some remain in this country until the end of September. 

 In the order of their migration the males usually precede 

 "he females. 



The food consists of the various sorts of grain, peas 

 (to which they are -extremely^ partial), and seeds of all de- 

 scriptions. They invariajjly feed upon the ground, and are 

 constant visitors to large open tracts of freshly-sown land. 

 Cornlields that border upon small or large streams are 

 veiy favourite haunts, the birds being I'ond of driidving and 

 l)alhi!ig. They usually feed and go about in small llucks 

 varying in numbers from half a dozen u\^ to twenty or 

 more, and at the close of the day's foraging they retire to 



