168 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



covered with such excrescences, many of a large size. 

 They were more full out than in any specimen I had 

 ever seen previously. 



COMMON TURTLE-DOVE.* 



IT is singular that turtle-doves should never have 

 been seen or heard by me in this neighbourhood till 

 1823. That year, and the year following, we noticed 

 a few individuals : since then the numbers have been 

 increasing each season ; and now their very peculiar 

 notes, more resembling the whizzing noise of a spin- 

 ning-wheel than anything else, may be heard every- 

 where during the spring and summer from the middle 

 of May till after the solstice. They appear to be 

 partial to fir-plantations. Whether the old birds 

 continue with us after the breeding-season is over, 

 I am not certain ; but I have occasionally known the 

 young shot in the month of September. 



On the 18th of June, 1824, we found the nest of a 

 turtle-dove in one of the plantations at Bottisham 

 Hall. It was built of sticks, and shallow ; like that 

 of the ring-dove, only smaller. There were two 

 eggs, of a pure white, and somewhat elliptical ; also 

 resembling those of the ring-dove, except in size. 

 They measured about an inch and a quarter in length : 

 they did not appear to have been incubated. 



COLLARED OR AFRICAN TURTLE.f 



THE unfledged young of all the pigeon tribe are 

 * Columba turtur, Linn. t C. risoria, Auct. 



