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PIGEONS AND SAND-GROUSE. 



broods being sometimes reared in the season. The turtle-dove is chiefly met with 

 in woods, and is partial to thick coverts and fir plantations, whence its low pro- 

 longed coo may be constantly heard, though the bird itself is rarely to be seen, 

 preferring the seclusion afforded by the thick foliage to the outer branches of the 

 trees. Its flight is always extremely rapid, and when amongst trees it can turn 

 and twist with extraordinary ease and swiftness. It sometimes flies great distances 

 in search of food and water, and may be often seen in cultivated fields searching 



DOMESTIC TURTLE-DOVE, AND AFRICAN GROUND-DOVE (\ nat. size). 



for grain and seeds, although seldom in such large flocks as other pigeons. In 

 Britain it is a shy bird, at the slightest sign of danger quickly seeking shelter in 

 the nearest covert. All the five members of the second subgenus (Homopelia), 

 which have the upper wing-coverts uniform in colour, inhabit Madagascar and the 

 adjacent islands. The third subgenus (Streptopelia), distinguished by having a 

 black collar round the hind-neck, includes thirteen species ; but it is uncertain from 

 which of these the domestic turtle-dove (T. risorius) has been derived. As an 

 example of this group may be mentioned the Tranquebar dove (T. tranquebaricus), 



