THE TURTLE DOVE. 4f)O 



gregarious as the Kock Dove. It has a strong and rapid flight, 

 performed by quick beats of the half-extended wing, with occa- 

 sional intermissions, its pinions sounding as it glides along ; and 

 when on an excursion to a distant part, it flies high above the 

 trees, whereas the species just mentioned generally proceeds 

 at a small elevation. When it has espied a place likely to af- 

 ford a supply of food, it alights abruptly, and usually stands 

 for a short time to look about, after which it commences its 

 search. On the ground its position is a little declined, the tail 

 nearly touching the surface ; and, when feeding, owing to the 

 shortness of its legs, its breast is but slightly elevated. It walks 

 in the manner of the Domestic Pigeon, that is with short and 

 quick steps, moving its head gently backwards and forwards. 

 The flock disperses and spreads over the fields, it being seldom 

 that two or three individuals keep close together, and they gene- 

 rally take care not to approach the enclosing walls or hedges, so 

 that it is difficult to shoot them on the ground. In the time of 

 snow or hard frost, they frequent turnip fields, and are more 

 easily approached ; but in general they are very suspicious and 

 vigilant, ever ready to fly off on the slightest appearance of 

 danger. Even by clear moonlight, when I have tried to shoot 

 them on the roost, they perceive their enemy before he can -discover 

 them. Frequently, however, in the woods, more especially in the 

 breeding season, one may surprise them within shooting distance ; 

 and, by waiting for their arrival at their roosting places in winter, 

 considerable execution may occasionally be done among them. 

 As the flesh of this Pigeon affords a sufficiently palatable article 

 of food, it is abundant in our markets in winter and spring." 



182. THE TURTLE DOVE. 



Columba Turtur, LIN. la Tourterelle, BUF. Die Turteltaube, BECH. 

 Description. This handsome bird is about the size of a 

 Missel Thrush, and ten to eleven inches in length. The beak 

 is slender and light blue ; the iris orange ; and a narrow bare 

 ring round the eyes flesh-coloured. The feet are purple ; the 

 forehead whitish ; the top of the head and upper part of the 

 neck light blue ; a colour which extends down the back, be- 

 coming darker and more dingy near the tail. There is a black 

 spot on each side of the neck, together with three or four 

 crescent- shaped transverse white stripes. The throat, belly, 

 and vent are white ; the neck and breast a light reddish violet. 

 The uppermost small wing coverts are light grey; the rest 

 blackish, with a broad border of rust colour. The foremost 

 pen feathers are blackish; the hindmost ashen grey, edged 



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