SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF CERTAIN UING-DOVKS. 193 



The black st Teak in front of the eyes is not mentioned by Brisson or by Tcmminck. 

 Possibly the Turtur torquatus sencyalensis of Brisson is not. the T. vinaceu* of 

 Salvador!. 



Linne 14 on Columba risoria (collared turtle). 



"Brown, beneath grey-claret: crown grey; black crescent on the neck above (behind), spotted 

 (bordered) with white; lateral tail feathers black, spotted (tipped) with white. Inhabits Europe 

 and India; larger than the Turtle-dove (T. turlur). Bill blackish; iridesred; body beneath white; 

 rump and quill feathers 15 grey-brown; tail cinereous, the lateral feathers tipped with white." 



Buff on. 1 * The blond ring-dove was regarded by Buffon as a race or a variety of 

 the type represented in the common turtle of Europe (Turtur turtur). 



"In the species of the turtle, we recognize two races or constant varieties: the first is the 'com- 

 mon turtle,' the second is called the 'collared turtle/ because it bears upon the neck a sort of black 

 collar. Both are found in our clime, and when mated together they produce a hybrid. The one 

 described by Schwenckfeld, which he calls Turtur mixtus, 11 came from a male common turtle and a 

 female collared turtle, and took after the mother more than the father. I do not doubt that these 

 hybrids are fertile, and that they return to the race of the mother in the course of some generations." 



Selby is on the collared turtle (Turtur risorius). The following synonomy refer- 

 ences and descriptions are given by Selby: 



"Columba risoria, Auct.; Turtur torquatus Senegalensis, Briss., I, p. 124, t. II, f. I; Columbe 

 blonde, Ternm., Pig., I, p. 323; Tourterelle a collier, Buff., PI. Enl., No. 244; Boitard el Corbie, 

 Monon. des Pigeons, p. 236, pi. 25. 



"From a very remote period this species appears to have been domesticated, or rather kept in 

 that state of captivity in which it is retained at the present day; for there is every reason to suppose 

 that the turtle-dove adverted to in Holy Writ may be referred to the same bird, as it is still abundant 

 in Egypt and other parts of the East, where it is fostered and cultivated with care, and it is certain 

 that many of the representations in the works of ancient art, where the dove figures as the emblem 

 of tenderness and affection, or where it is depicted as the appropriate attendant of Venus, are accurate 

 delineations of the collared or domestic turtle. 



"This bird does not appear to be susceptible of that attachment to its home or place of birth 

 for which the common or dove-cote pigeon is remarkable, and which peculiar quality renders that 

 species so serviceable to man. On the contrary, like its congener the common or wild European 

 turtle (Turtur commwra's), 19 it can not be left to range at perfect liberty without the danger of its 

 flying away to return no more, and must therefore be kept constantly confined either in cages or 

 in aviaries adapted for that purpose. In this state of captivity, if properly attended to, it breeds 

 with facility, sometimes producing as many as 8 broods within the year; but, being a native of warm 

 climates, and very impatient of cold, it is seldom cultivated to the same extent in this country as 

 it is in those where the temperature is better adapted to its constitution. The male shows great 

 tenderness and affection to his mate, and is constantly by her side, soothing her with caresses or 

 paying court by soft cooing notes, and that peculiar cry so expressive of laughter, and from which 

 it takes its specific name. 



"In its wild or natural state it is found in various parts of Africa, and we have by us specimens 

 from the southern part of that continent, a description of which, as varying in depth and intensity 

 of color from the domestic variety, is here subjoined. 20 



H Syst. Nat. (translation by Turton of last edition by Gmelin, London, 1806, p. 478). 



15 These feathers in T. vinaceus, according to Linne (p. 474) :ire "edged with whitish." Rrisson describes the 

 edges of the same feathers as "blanc sale"; Selby (p. 172) as "greyish-white." Salvador! (p. 429) says, "All the quills 

 with narrow light edges." Reichenbach (Tauben, 18(32, p. 741 ) says the chief distinguishing mark is "die auffallriid 

 weissen Saume der Schwingen." This character, as described by most authors, would not stand in the way of Tein- 

 minck's view that this sprcics represents the type of T. risoriun. The "streak of black" in front of the eye, however 

 forbids this identification. 



16 Hist. Nat. Ois., II, p. 550, 1771. 

 "Theriotrop. Sil., p. 365. 



18 P. J. Selby, The Nat. Hist, of Pigeons, Vol. V of the Naturalists Library, Edinburgh, 1835. 



19 That is, Turtur lurlitr. 



-" This was probably St. vinaceus. 



