TURTLE DOVE. COMMON PHEASANT. 123 



SPECIES 116 THE TURTLE DOVE. 



Columba turtur. Linn. 

 Columbe tourterelle. Temm. 



THE TURTLE DOVE, the smallest of the Irish Columbinae, is 

 the only migratory visitant of its family, and occurs with 

 us occasionally. Four specimens have passed under our 

 notice, and amongst them a female, for the sternum of which 

 we are indebted to Mr. Richard Glennon, and notes taken at 

 the time of dissection. From the size of the eggs in the ovary, 

 and from being obtained so early in June, we might, doubt- 

 less, conclude it was preparing a nest in the locality when 

 obtained. It was shot in the vicinity of Ovoca, in the county 

 of Wicklow. 



Though the smallest, it is also the most beautiful of the 

 species, and is possessed of the same harmless habits that so 

 much distinguish the rock dove. The eggs are of a pure white, 

 glossy and satin -like, resembling those of the preceding spe- 

 cies, but smaller in size. 



Habitat Northern Africa. 



FAMILY XXIV. PHASIANID^E (PHEASANTS). 



GENUS LIX. PHASIANUS (PHEASANTS). 



SPECIES 117 THE COMMON PHEASANT. 



Phasianus colchicus. Linn, 

 Phaisan vulgaire. Temm. 



THE widely-spread family of the Phasianidae is only repre- 

 sented in Ireland by a single species. Introduced into the 

 country, and liberated from many preserves, the nume- 

 rous progeny have spread themselves widely in the neigh- 

 bourhood ; and being comparatively destitute of the many 

 enemies which destroy such numbers in the English pre- 

 serves, they are more common than many persons would 

 suppose. 



It is generally believed that the original locality whence 

 the pheasant was introduced into Europe was the banks of 

 the Phasis (whence the name), a river of Colchis, in Asia 

 Minor, discovered by the adventurous Argonauts. It was 

 afterwards introduced into Greece, which, when swept by the 



