WILD PIGEONS. 301 



and truth, that has made it in all ages, par excellence^ the 

 bird of love and song. One peculiarity of this gentle 

 creature is its concealing itself among the most imper- 

 vious places of the wood, so that it is not easily seen. It 

 generally builds near the top of thick evergreen trees, and, 

 as it does not come to this country till the end of April, 

 and returns in September, it only rears one brood, taking 

 its journey as soon as the young ones are able to travel. 



On first arriving here, they often frequent the green 

 corn-fields in pairs; at the time of incubation, however, 

 they keep more to the woods, where nothing but the coo 

 betrays their retreat. In some parts of England, I am 

 told, they are gregarious after they have reared their 

 young, and frequent the corn and pea-fields like other 

 doves. But I have never seen above four or five in com- 

 pany. I once traced out one by its coo, and had the satis- 

 faction of seeing him perched on the topmost branch of an 

 old oak, lowering his head at intervals, and pouring forth 

 his tender notes. When partridge-shooting in Suffolk, a 

 pair of turtles rose off the stubble, and settled upon one of 

 the top branches of a high tree. I continued my range in 

 their direction, and killed both at a shot. Neither had 

 the patch on the side of the neck, so were most likely 

 hatched that year. 



Turtles are often met with in the northern counties of 

 England, and are not unfrequently found in Scotland. 

 My brother shot one in Dumbartonshire a few years ago. 

 It was evidently very young. 



