THE PIE KIND. 13* 



g? they could fly, they always Setook themsehes to the woods where 

 vjey were first produced. In uie beginning of winter these assemble 

 .i great flocks in the woods, and leave off cooing ; nor do they re- 

 fume this note of courtship till the beginning of March, when the ge- 

 nial season, by supplying them with food, renews their desires. 



The turtle-dove is a smaller, but a much shyer bird than any of 

 the former. It may easily be distinguished from the rest by the iris 

 of the eye, which is of a fine yellow, and by a beautiful crimson cir- 

 cle that encompasses the eye-lids. The fidelity of these birds is no- 

 ted ; and a pair being put in a cage, if one dies, the other will not 

 survive it. The turtle-dove is a bird of passage, and few or none re- 

 main in our northern climates in winter. They fly in flocks when 

 they come to breed here in summer, and delight in open, mountain- 

 ous, sandy countries. But they build their nests in the midst of 

 woods, and choose the most retired situations for incubation. They 

 feed upon all sorts of grain, but are fondest of millet-seed. 



To this short list might be added a long catalogue of foreign 

 pigeons, of which we know little more than the plumage and the 

 names. Indeed, the variety of their plumage is as beautiful as the 

 names by which they are known are harsh and dissonant. The 

 ncotzimtzcan, for instance, is one of the most splendid tenants of the 

 Mexican forests ; but few I believe would desire to learn the name 

 only to be informed that it is covered with purple, green, and yellow 

 plumage. To describe such birds, the historian's pen is not half suet 

 a useful implement as the painter's pencil 



