256 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



groves are full of their soft note, which is a rich low coor-r-r 

 coor-r-r, prolonged for some time, and often modulated in 

 different ways. In cultivated districts it is a very timid bird, 

 and at the least alarm seeks safety amongst the trees, where, 

 when perched, it is ever looking anxiously from side to side, 

 as if fearful of an enemy's approach ; but it is a very easy bird 

 to shoot when feeding in open country where it is not 

 molested. The food of the Turtle-Dove is chiefly composed 

 of grain and small seeds ; but, doubtless, like its near allies, 

 the Pigeons, it varies this diet with land-shells and fruit. Like 

 the rest of the Pigeons, the Turtle-Dove drinks frequently and 

 regularly. It is said by some writers that it only takes fresh 

 water; but Stevenson, in his "Birds of Norfolk," notices its 

 partiality for salt, and thinks that this is the reason why it 

 occurs so abundantly near the coast. Other Pigeons are 

 known to prefer brackish water to fresh. 



" Like its cousins, the Pigeons, the Turtle-Dove often flies 

 far to feed, and small parties of these birds, as well as of Stock- 

 Doves, may be constantly seen in spring on the Wallachian 

 Steppes ten miles or more from a tree or even a bush. I have 

 shot them on these prairies as late as the 28th of May. The 

 flight of this bird is very powerful, and often accompanied 

 with loud clashing together of the wings. On the ground it 

 runs among the earth-clods with great ease, continually de- 

 pressing its head and contracting its neck." 



Nest. A flat structure of twigs, varying in strength and di- 

 mensions. It is often built in evergreen trees or bushes in 

 parks and gardens, or in a dense hedge, and generally at no 

 great distance from the ground. 



Eggs. Two in number, creamy- white. Axis, i* 1-1*3 inch; 

 diam., 0-85-1-0. 



II. THE ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE. TURTUR ORIENTALIS. 



Columba orientalis. Lash. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 606 (1790). 



Turtur orientalis, Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 403 



(1893)- 



Adult Male. Similar to T. turtur, but rather larger, with the 

 edges to the feathers on the side of the neck bluish-grey, the 



