466 THE TURTLE DOVE. 



with rose colour, which gives a very handsome appearance to 

 the wings. The tail feathers are blackish ; the centre feathers 

 wholly so ; the rest tipped with white. 



In the female the breast is paler ; the wings are spotted 

 with rust colour ; and the spots on the neck are not so large. 



Habitat. In a wild state these birds are found throughout 

 the temperate zone of Europe and Asia, and in some of the 

 South Sea Islands. They frequent woody and mountainous 

 districts, but do not penetrate far into the great mountain 

 ranges, and are sometimes met with in gardens and detached 

 groves. They are the least hardy of our wild Pigeons ; and 

 though returning from their migration at the end of April and 

 beginning of May, depart again in September. In seasons 

 when fir cones are unusually abundant, as, for instance, 1788, 

 they have been seen in vast numbers in the Thuringian Forest. 

 They are by no means shy. 



In confinement they may either be allowed to range the 

 aviary or may be kept in a space near the oven, divided from 

 the rest of the room by a grating. Young birds, which have 

 been reared by domestic Pigeons, may safely be kept in the 

 dovecot ; which, however, should always be in such a position 

 as to admit of the application, in winter, of artificial heat. 

 They are occasionally confined in garden aviaries, in which 

 they will not only breed among themselves, but will produce 

 Mules with the Collared Turtle. 



Food. The seeds of coniferous trees form the chief food of 

 the Turtle Dove ; though it also eats vetches, peas, linseed, 

 millet, hemp and rape seed, rye, wheat, buckwheat, barley, and 

 bilberries. 



In the aviary it is content with bread, and is very easily 

 preserved. 



Breeding. The nest is made of a few dry twigs laid toge- 

 ther ; and though tolerably secure when built in a pine tree, is 

 often blown out of beech and other trees. The female lays 

 two white eggs. 



The Turtle Dove, whether reared from the nest or caught 

 when not very old, will breed in confinement, and make a nest 

 in a small straw basket fixed in the corner of the cage or 

 grating. The eggs are generally without hard shells ; and it 

 is, therefore, easier to rear Mules between this and the Collared 

 Turtle, in which case the eggs are fully provided with shells. 



