\ 



rilE TURTLE DOVE. lo. 



roost aiTiongst the hig-ber branches of trees. The flig-ht is 

 easy, buoyant^ and rapid. 



On their first appearance they do not seem to be 

 13articularly shy, but as the nesting operations proceed 

 they become much more cautious, and are then approached 

 with difficulty. The nest^ is a rather slovenly struc- 

 ture. It is composed of twigs and sticks carelessly put 

 togeUier in a tree, and not very far removed from the 

 ground, seldom more than fifteen or twenty feet, and some- 

 times not more than four feet. The eggs are pure white, 

 and of a very shiny, polished appearance. They never exceed 

 two in numbei*, and are of a long oval shape, with slightly 

 pointed extremities. xVt times the eggs may be plainly 

 seen through the bottom of the nest, so little is the trouble 

 bestowed by the birds in the construction of their home. 



The Turtle Dove is nearly thirteen inches in length, 

 the bill dark greyish-black, much flattened in the centre, 

 and reddish on the inside; iris bright yellowish-red, 

 the bare space around it light red ; sides of the head 

 yellowish, changing to pink on the neck and breast; back 

 of neck and crown light greyish-blue; on the sides of 

 the neck there is a rounded patch of black, each feather 

 being tipped with white and surrounded with a bluish 

 tinge; in front it is a delicate light purplish red, 

 fading into grey; chin pale brown; back greyish-brown 

 above, and brownish on the lower part. The tail is long 

 and much rounded; it is greyish-brown, many of the 

 feathers being tipped with white. The wings are brownish- 

 and greyish-brown, with markings of black in the centre of 

 the feathers; the under wing-coverts are grey, and the 

 under tail-coverts white. The legs and toes are red, and 

 the claws blackish-brown. 



