306 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



The egg is plain white, much like that of the 

 Stock Dove. 



. TURTLE DOVE, Columba Turtur. The Turtle 

 Dove is not an uncommon summer visitor in this 

 county: it arrives about the end of April or be- 

 ginning of May, and departs about October : there 

 is a note in the * Zoologist' of one having remained 

 as late as the 18th of November. It appears to have 

 two broods in the year, as I have seen one shot on 

 the 1st of September, which could only have just 

 been out of the nest, and I have in my collection one 

 shot on the same day in nearly adult plumage. 



The food of the Turtle Dove is much the same as 

 that of the three last-mentioned species, and it is 

 consequently rather mischievous, but as it is by no 

 means so numerous as the Wood Pigeon it does not 

 excite so much indignation. 



The nest, like that of the Wood Pigeon, is placed 

 in a tree or highish bush, and is made of sticks, 

 much in the same open loose sort of manner. 



The Turtle Dove is easily kept in confinement 

 and will breed : I have known it also, in my aviary, 

 cross with the common white Ring Dove (Columba 

 risoria) : the offspring of this cross are very pretty 

 neat birds, not nearly so distinctly marked as the 

 adult Turtle Dove, but much more resembling the 

 young birds of the year in their first plumage. 

 There is, I see, a note in the 'Zoologist' for 18G5 

 of the same cross having taken place. 



