THE PIE KIND. 241 



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 circle that encompasses the eye-lids. 

 The fidelity of these birds is noted ; and a pair 

 being put in a cage, if one dies, the other will 

 not survive it. The turtle-dove is a bird of pas- 

 sage, and few or none remain in our northern 

 climates in winter. They fly in flocks when they 

 come to breed here in summer, and delight in 

 open, mountainous, 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 cata- 

 logue 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 Ocotzimtzcan, for instance, is one 

 of the most splendid tenants of the Mexican fo- 

 rests ; 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 such a useful implement as the painter's 

 pencil. 



VOL. IV. Q 



