86 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



pleasing list of excellences, it must be confessed that 

 at times the deportment of the Turtle Dove in cap- 

 tivity is subject to some considerable variations. In 

 an aviary it frequently becomes quarrelsome and apt 

 to bully and drive the smaller birds away from their 

 food ; and even when more than a pair are kept together 

 without any other sorts of birds violent quarrels will 

 take place between them, and the weaker bird is often 

 subjected to harsh and unneighbourly treatment. 



Owing to the fact that the Turtle Dove is more generally 

 kept in confinement than any other member of the large 

 family to which it belongs, it is much better known as 

 a domestic pet than as a Familiar Wild Bird. Indeed, 

 as a wild bird it is not so frequently seen or so commonly 

 known as may be imagined. Turtle Doves are of entirely 

 migratory habits, travelling to us from the African 

 Continent, and also visiting many of the European coun- 

 tries. They make their appearance with us about the 

 beginning of May, although the forwardness or otherwise 

 of the spring affects their movements to a great extent, 

 and some remain in this country until the end of September. 

 In the order of their migration the males usually precede 

 the females. 



. The food consists of the various sorts of grain, peas 

 (to which they are extremely partial), and seeds of all de- 

 scriptions. They invariably feed upon the ground, and are 

 constant visitors to large open tracts of freshly-sown land. 

 Cornfields that border upon small or large streams are 

 very favourite haunts, the birds being fond of drinking and 

 bathing. They usually feed and go about in small flocks 

 varying in numbers from half a dozen up to twenty or 

 more, and at the close of the day's foraging they retire to 



