THE TURTLE DOVE. 



119 



Around him flew Falcons, the while in the air 

 Birds many and noisy his presence declare. 



form and size, to be very nearly like the Stock-dove, but the 

 Rock-dove is rather more slender; the predominant shades of 

 each are much the same, the principal variations consisting in 

 the colonr of the nimp, which, in the Stock-dove, is invariably 

 bluish grey, but in the Rock-dove generally white, hence one of 

 its names. The habits of these two species are however more 

 strongly marked; while the Stock-dove inhabits woods and the 

 interior of the country, the Rock-dove is always met with in 

 rocky places and those principally on the sea coast. It is found 

 on various cliffs on our own shores, particularly on Caldy island 

 in South Wales, and in the Orkneys, breeding in the innermost 

 recesses of caves of very large dimensions, beyond the situation 

 chosen by auks, gulls, &c. It is also very numerous on the 

 rocky islands of the Mediterranean, abundant in North Africa 

 and on the island of Teneriffe. In short it appears that this 

 species, and not the Slock-dove^ is the genuine original of onr 

 Domestic Pigeons. Eggs two, white; breeds in a wild state 

 only two or three times a year. 



The Tttf^ar, Dove, Turtle Dove, Common Turtle^ or Culver* 

 inhabits Europe, China, and India ; it arrives in this country in 

 the spring and leaves it in September; the back is grey, breast 

 flesh colour; on each side of the neck a spot of black, feathers 

 tipt with white; tail feathers tipt with white ; length twelve 

 inches. Two other varieties. Migrates in flocks; breeds in 

 thick woods ; very shy and retired ; a pest to fields of peas. 

 It is found in this country chiefly in Kent ; more rarely in the 

 west or north; I never saw it in a wild stale in Somersetshire. 

 Its nest is said to be composed of sticks ; eggs two, white. 



The supposed faithfulness of this bird to its mate is very qnes- 



* '* Like as the Culver on the bared bongh 



Sits mourning for the absence of her mate." 



Spencer, Sonnet Ixxxviii. 

 1 



