RING-NECKED DOVE. 



{Zenaidura macroura ) 



THE popular names for this favor- 

 ite bird are turtle dove, com- 

 mon dove, and Carolina dove. 

 It is an inhabitant of all of 

 temperate North America to a little 

 north of the United States boundary, 

 south through Mexico and Central 

 America to the Isthmus of Panama, 

 Cuba, Jamaica, and some other West 

 Indian islands. The species have even 

 been known to winter as far north as 

 Canada, Mr. John J. Morley, of Wind- 

 sor, Ontario, informmg Professor Baird 



that he had seen considerable numbers 

 near that place on the 6th of Decem- 

 ber, 1878, and that he had on other oc- 

 casions seen it in various places, from 

 three to twelve at a time. It is a com- 

 mon summer resident in Illinois. The 

 majority arrive the last of March or first 

 of April, and depart by the middle of 

 October. In many places it becomes 

 partly domesticated, breeding in the 

 trees in the yard and showing but little 

 fear when approached. 



THE RING-NECKED DOVE. 



All day throughout the sunny sky, 



All other sounds above, 

 As, breathmg sweet tranquillity, 



Sweet voices of the dove 

 Have rung the oft-recurring note, 



A constant vow of love. 



Thus its dear mate to ever cheer, ' 

 As, still together, near they fly, 

 A distant echo, faint, yet clear, 

 Quick falling now so strangely near 

 When sunshine gladdens earth and 

 sky. 



But cold doth blow the dreary 

 wind. 



Or clouds arise, and float above, 

 With shadows darkening light of day; 



No echo then from greeting love. 

 But, deep in quiet nest secure. 



For sunshine's cheer awaits the dove. 



Oh, dove! Oh, love! forever bright, 

 Like sunny skies your life appears. 



And songs of joy your hearts delight. 



If storms or shadows dark affright. 

 My love endures and conquers fears! 



SOME EARLY RISERS. 



An ornithologist, having investi- 

 gated the question of at what hour in 

 summer the commonest small birds 

 wake and sing, says the greenfinch is 

 the earliest riser, as it pipes as e.arly as 

 1 130 in the morning, the blackcap be- 

 gmning at about 2:30. It is nearly 4:00 

 o'clock, and the sun is well above the 

 horizon before the first real songster 

 appears in the person of the blackbird. 

 He is heard a half an hour before the 



thrush, and the chirp of the robin be- 

 gins about the same length of time be- 

 fore that of the wren. The house spar- 

 row and the tomtit occupy the last 

 place in the list. This investigation 

 has ruined the lark's reputation for 

 early rising. That much-celebrated 

 bird is quite a sluggard, as it does not 

 rise until long after the chaffinches, 

 linnets, and a number of hedgerow birds 

 have been up and about. 



