190 AUSTRALIAN DOVES. [CHAP. vi. 



consists of two syllables or measures, the second being 

 reduplicated, and the whole accented like the words, 

 " Ah ! Mamma ! " The Turtle Dove is much the 

 smallest of our native Columbidse. The plumage may 

 be generally described as ashy brown : the spot on the 

 side of the neck, and the white tips to the tail feathers, 

 are the most ornamental points of it. In the spots on 

 the neck trifling variations occur, which may safely be 

 referred to age. In Shropshire, this bird is believed to 

 be found nowhere else except about the Wrekin, and 

 hence is claimed by them as the Wrekin Dove ; but the 

 species has a most extensive geographical range. Such 

 exclusive possession of the Turtle Dove is no more a 

 fact than that the Wrekin is Mount Ida, or that the 

 Shropshire gentry dwell on the top of it to represent 

 the gods and goddesses. 



Curiosity and hope next lead us to glance at Aus- 

 tralia, to ascertain whether any of the numerous 

 members of the Pigeon family found on that vast 

 island be, by possibility, attachable to our own family 

 circle. Five species only of Pigeons (for the Passenger 

 is hardly admissible, and affinis not yet acknowledged) 

 are found in Europe* ; the Ring Dove, the Stock Dove, 

 the Rock Dove, the Common Turtle, and the Collared 

 Turtle ; the latter being merely an occasional visitant. 

 One of these has been domesticated, and another tamed 

 and all but domesticated, from time immemorial. It 

 will look like an unusual exception to the doctrine of 

 chances, if, among the small number of five, out of the 



* The Turtur Senegalensis, however, is recognised as a European 

 species, and has been found abundantly in Greece. (Ann. Nat. Hist, 

 vol. 18, p. 13). 



