THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 447 



seen in the course of each spring and autumn migration. It is dis- 

 tributed as a breeding species over the whole of Europe, advancing 

 as far as Central Asia ; though, as a rule, less numerous in southern 

 countries, it is still found nesting abundantly in Asia Minor and 

 Palestine. Its northern range extends to southern Scandinavia. 



247. Turtle Dove [TURTELTAUBE]. 

 COLUMBA TURTUR, Brisson. 1 



Heligolandish : Turtel Diiwe = Turtle Dove. 



Columba turtur. Naumann, vi. 233. 



Turtle Dove. Dresser, vii. 39. 



Colombe tourterelle. Teraminck, Manuel, ii. 448, iv. 312. 



During the beautiful days of May, and until after the middle of 

 June, the small and graceful Turtle Dove is reckoned among our 

 common birds. Solitary birds are comparatively rare, small com- 

 panies of from three to five individuals being mostly seen. In 1885 

 they were specially abundant, my journal containing the following 

 entries: May 28. Wind, south; weather fine, warm; C. turtur 

 remarkably numerous about fifteen shot ; on the same day there 

 was a very powerful migration of all species due at this period. 

 May 29. Wind, S.S.E. to S., calm ; at noon, wind suddenly shifted 

 to N.W. ; migration much feebler than on previous day, but still 

 very many C. turtur. May 30 and 31. Wind, south-west very 

 high ; dense rain-clouds, consequently no migration. June 4. 

 Wind, light southerly ; weather warm and clear ; G. turtur, up to 

 forty individuals, and on June 13th, in fine warm weather, a few 

 Turtle Doves, besides Hirundo, Cypselus, Caprimulgus, and Mus- 

 cicapa grisola. 



When not disturbed, this bird has but little shyness ; in fact it 

 is rather of a confiding nature, and it is always a pleasure to see 

 one or more of them tripping lightly with short steps about the 

 garden. During the autumn passage they occur in much smaller 

 numbers in fact, almost in solitary instances only. This is a very 

 singular phenomenon, which is repeated in a still more marked 

 degree in the case of the Red-backed Shrike, Lanius Collurio, of 

 which species neither Glaus Aeuckens nor myself have ever met 

 with an old bird during the autumn migration, such birds as were 

 seen having been invariably solitary young individuals. 



The nesting area of the Turtle Dove ranges through the whole 

 of temperate and southern Europe, Asia Minor, and Palestine, and 



1 Turtur communis, Selby. 



