COLUMBtD^E. 259 



covered with fibrous roots, and on this are deposited their two delicate 

 cream-coloured eggs : axis, ICT; diameter, 8'", similar at each end. 



The young the first year are mottled. They generally fly in pairs, 

 but several are often seen in company. The males are very salacious* 

 cooing to any female they chance to fall in with. I kept one in con- 

 finement for many months : it became very tame, and would salute my 

 first coming into" the room in the morning with a deep, plaintive 

 " coo-coo-op." It was killed at last by some little love-birds (fluphemia 

 Elegans), that tore it to pieces. They feed entirely on grass seeds and 

 grain, and walk with such rapidity when feeding, that I have often 

 mistaken them for rats when about the farmsteads where they congre- 

 gate. It is probably migratory. 



Genus TURTUJ?, Selby. 



Bill slender and straight, with the top slightly arched and 

 acute ; wings rather lengthened, with the first two quills 

 rather graduated, and the second and third quills the longest ; 

 tail moderate, even or rounded ; tarsi rather shorter than the 

 middle toe, and scutellated in front ; toes very long and 

 slender, with the outer one shorter than the inner ; the claws 

 moderate and slightly curved. 



509. Turtur VinaceUS. (Gmel.) Turtur Ery- 



throphrys, Swain., Golumba Le Vaillantii, Smith. 

 GENERAL colour of the-back, interscapulars, wings, and tail, 

 grey-brown, having a strong cinereous tinge on 'the back, and 

 a slighter one on the rump and outermost wing-covers ; the 

 crown is of a most delicate cinereous, graduating to white in 

 front, and blending behind into the vinaceous red of the 

 nape and upper neck ; the back of the neck has a broad, 

 black semi-collar, margined by a narrow cinereous line ; the 

 whole of the under plumage, as far as the belly, is vinaceous, 

 becoming paler on the ears, and almost white on the chin ; 

 the belly, vent, flanks, and under, tail- covers clear cinereous ; 

 tail broad, and rounded ; the outer half cinereous (almost 

 white beneath), and the basal half black ; bill black ; feet 

 dark; orbits naked, and rich red. Total length, 11"; bill 

 from gape, 1"; wing, 7"; tail beyond, 1J"; ditto from base, 

 5"; tarsus, &"; ^middle toe and claw, 1^"; hinder ditto, ^". 

 As so much similarity exists between the two turtle-doves 

 found in this country, 1 give full descriptions of both, from 

 the careful pen of that most accurate and minute of all 

 describers, Swainson, whose specimen I have seen. I find, 

 however, much difference exists in the measurements of that 

 described by Mr. Swainson, or even in two different exam- 

 ples now before me, one of which came from Swellendam ; 

 the other shot at the Knysna by Mr. Butler, the taxider- 



