74 TURTLE PIGEON. 



tail-coverts dusky, edged with brown, and dashed 

 with cinereous: the tail is black, tipped with white, 

 except the two middle feathers, which are wholly 

 of a dusky brown ; the outer feather is shorter than 

 the rest, and white on the exterior web : the legs are 

 purplish red. The female not so bright in colour, 

 and rather less than the male. 



This bird is subject to very great variation : one 

 variety has been described to occur in this country : 

 this differs from the common one in having almost 

 the whole side of the head black, and instead of 

 each feather being tipped with white, there is a 

 round spot of white on each near the end, giving 

 a beautiful appearance to the sides of the neck. 

 Several other varieties are mentioned by Latham, 

 but as they may eventually prove to be separate 

 species, it will be most prudent to pass them over 

 in silence, merely giving the synonyms as they 

 occur in Temminck. A variety worth recording 

 is mentioned by Bewick ; it agreed in every respect 

 with the common species, except that the mark on 

 the neck (which forms so conspicuous a character) 

 was entirely wanting : this is probably the young 

 bird. 



The Turtle visits the southern parts of England 

 in the spring, and disappears in the beginning of 

 September : it is principally found in thick woods, 

 and builds on the highest trees ; the nest is com- 

 posed of sticks : the female lays two white eggs, 

 and breeds but once in the year ; but in warmer 

 climates it is said to breed several times. Kent 

 seems to be the county where these birds are most 

 numerous, Dr. Latham mentioning that they may 



