SPECIES 2. COLUMBA CAROLINENSIS. 



CAROLINA PIGEON, OR TURTLE DOVE. 



[Plate XLIII. Fig. 1.] 



LINN. Syst. 286. CATESB. Car. 1, 24. BUFF. n. 557. PI. Enl. 

 175. La Tourterelle de la Caroline, BRISSON, i, 110. TURTON, 

 479. Arct. Zool n, No. 188.* PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 5088. 



THIS is a favourite bird with all those who love to wander 

 among our woods in spring, and listen to their varied harmony. 

 They will there hear many a singular and sprightly performer; 

 but none so mournful as this. The hopeless woe of settled sor- 

 row, swelling the heart of female innocence itself, could not as- 

 sume tones more sad, more tender and affecting. Its notes are 

 four; the first is somewhat the highest, and preparatory, seem- 

 ing to be uttered with an inspiration of the breath, as if the af- 

 flicted creature were just recovering its voice from the last con- 

 vulsive sobs of distress; this is followed by three long, deep 

 and mournful moan ings, that no person of sensibility can listen 

 to without sympathy. A pause of a few minutes ensues; and 

 again the solemn voice of sorrow is renewed as before. This 

 is generally heard in the deepest shaded parts of the woods, fre- 

 quently about noon, and towards the evening. 



There is, however, nothing of real distress in all this; quite 

 the reverse. The bird who utters it wantons by the side of his 

 beloved partner, or invites her by his call to some favourite re- 

 tired and shady retreat. It is the voice of love, of faithful con- 

 nubial affection, for which the whole family of Doves are so 

 celebrated; and among them all none more deservingly so than 

 the species now before us. 



*Colwnba Carolinensis y LATH. Jnd. Orn.p. 613, JVb. 71. C. Canadensis? Id. 

 ib. JVb. 72. 



