384 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



struction. The people observing my surprise, cooll} T said, * It 

 is only the Pigeons ;' * * * ." 



(d). The Wild Pigeons have a cooing not unlike that of the 

 domestic birds. This is a love-note, and may be heard in 

 spring. Audubon says : " The common notes resemble the 

 monosyllables kee-kee-kee-'kee, the first being the loudest, the 

 others gradually diminishing in power." 



II. ZEN^EDURA 



(A) CAROLINENSIS. Carolina Dove. "Turtle Dove." Mourn- 

 ing Dove. 



(In New England, a summer-resident.) 



(a). About twelve inches long. Tail- feathers fourteen, and 

 bluish ; the outer ones singly black-barred and white-tipped. 

 Feet carmine (and not yellow). Otherwise essentially like the 

 Wild Pigeon (I), but more brownish, and with a black spot on 

 the side of the head. 



(6). The nest is a frail structure of twigs, built in the woods 

 or sometimes in orchards. Two white and (nearly) elliptical 

 eggs, measuring about 1 % 10 X '80 of an inch, are laid in May. 



(c). The Carolina Doves differ distinctly from the Wild 

 Pigeons in being regularly migratory, very much less grega- 

 rious, only small flocks being ever seen in" New England, in 

 not roosting closely together in trees, and in flying with a loud 

 whistle of the wing, and seldom at a great height. They do 

 not occur to the northward of Southern New England, where 

 they are summer-residents of great rarity in many places, 

 though common, according to Mr. Maynard, on Cape Cod. I 

 have seen them from March until October. They frequent 

 open woods and grounds, grain-fields, pastures, and even, it is 

 said, barn-yards. There they may be seen, often in companies, 

 now walking sedately, now more rapidty, and picking up the 

 seeds, grain, berries, etc., upon which they feed. Occasionally 

 they alight on fences, and flirt their long and handsome tails.. 

 They are eminently affectionate toward one another, but toward 

 man they are often shy. 



(d). Besides a low chuckle, they have a peculiar and very 



