JUNE. 201 



as they fly, from the changing lustre of their plumage, pro- 

 duces a fine effect. The eye of this species, as of all the 

 pigeons, possesses a peculiarly soft and mild character, which, 

 with their mournful and gentle notes, has perhaps contri- 

 buted to make them the general favourites which they are. 

 The Turtle-dove (Columba Carolinensis) is said by natu- 

 ralists to be an inhabitant of Canada, or migratory here ; and 

 I suspect, from its general resemblance, it is often mistaken 

 for the passenger pigeon : it is, however, smaller, and of 

 more brilliant tints, and does not assemble in those immense 

 flocks that the latter does, it being rare to see in summer 

 more than two or three together. They fly with a loud 

 whistling sound, caused by the vibration of their wings. In 

 the South I have seen them abundantly, where their re- 

 markably mournful cooings fill the woods all day long. The 

 coo of the Turtle-dove consists of five deliberate syllables, not 

 four, as Wilson has it, though the first is sometimes so low 

 as to be unheard unless you are pretty near : the second is 

 about five notes or tones higher than the others, which are 

 all of one note. It is a very mournful, but not unpleasing 

 sound j and being quite in character with the umbrageous 

 solitudes of those majestic forests, has a soothing effect on 

 the mind. They are fond of basking in the dusty roads 

 when the sun shines, and are so tame that they will scarcely 

 move from a horse's feet. 



C. There is that peculiar quivering in the air close to the 

 ground, or the surface of any object, which we always see 

 at this season ; an appearance so exclusively associated with 

 bright and warm weather, that the country people in some 

 parts of England, have given it the name of " the summer." 



F* It is caused by the rarefaction and consequent rising 

 of the air : the earth being heated by the sun's rays, gives 



K 5 



