202 PEREGRINE FALCON. 



The Turtle Dove seems to prefer the woody parts 

 of the country and in the breeding season it becomes 

 a very shy and cautious bird, retiring to the thickest 

 parts of the covers and copses to build its nest. This 

 is usually placed in a thick bush or fir, or rather low 

 down in a tree. Frequently it can be reached from 

 the ground. I have, however, found its nest at least 

 thirty feet up in a beech tree. The male birds seek 

 fresh partners every season. The nest is a very slight 

 structure, being a mere thin platform of sticks, through 

 which the eggs can often be distinctly seen. On this 

 platform two oval eggs are laid, of a creamy white 

 colour. 



The nest referred to above in the beech tree con- 

 tained only one egg, from which the bird was just 

 emerging, but possibly the other had rolled or was 

 blown out. These eggs are known at once from those 

 of the other Doves by their much smaller size. 



The Turtle Dove can be reared in confinement with- 

 out much difficulty and becomes very tame, looking 

 very beautiful and graceful as it walks proudly about, 

 nodding its pretty head. If placed with other birds in 

 an aviary, it is said to become very quarrelsome and 

 peevish, a trait in its character which seems unnatural, 

 when we consider the many traditional tales of the 

 affectionate and gentle Dove. 



PEREGRINE FALCON. 



FALCO PEREGRINUS. 

 Family FALCONID^;. Genus FALCO. 



In these days, when game is so strictly preserved, 

 and all birds of prey are ruthlessly destroyed by 



