276 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



they always build in similar places viz., old ruins, and 

 sheltered rocks and caverns. In fact, I have little doubt that 

 they are the same bird in a wild and tame state. 



One word for the turtle, that fairest of doves, and most wel- 

 come harbinger of spring. There is a plaintive murmur in its 

 coo, connected as it is with the idea of constancy 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 impervious 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 gre- 

 garious 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 company. I once traced out one by its 

 coo, and had the satisfaction of seeing him perched on the top- 

 most 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, which they loose soon after 

 hatching-time. 



Turtles are often met with in the northern counties of Eng- 

 land, and are not unfrequently found in Scotland ; but the 

 latter are almost always young birds, which take a wider range 

 than old ones do. 



