584 AVES— PIGEON. 



THE CAROLINA PIGEON, i 



Called also the turtle-dove, is a general inhabitant, in the summer, of the 

 United States, from Canada to Florida, and from the seacoast to the Missis- 

 sippi, and far to the westward. They pass the winter in great numbers at 

 North and South Carolina. It is a favorite bird with all those Avho love to 

 wander among the woods in spring, and listen to their varied harmony. 

 They will hear many a singular and striking performance, but none so 

 mournful as this. Its notes are four ; the first is somewhat the highest and 

 preparatory, seeming to be uttered with an inspiration of the breath, as if the 

 afflicted creature were just recovering its voice from the last convulsive notes 

 of distress; this is followed by three long, deep, and mournful moanings, 

 that no one can listen to without sympathy. A pause of a few minutes 

 ensues, and then again the solemn voice of sorrow is renewed as before. 



There is, however, nothing of real distress in all this ; quite the reverse. 

 The bird v/ho utters it, wantons by the side of his beloved partner, or invites 

 her, by his call, to some favorite, retired, and shady retreat. It is the voice 

 of love, of faithful connubial affection, for which the whole family of doves 

 are so celebrated ; and among them all, none more deservedly so, than the 

 species now before us. The flight of this bird is quick, vigorous, and always 

 accompanied by a peculiar whistling of the wings. They fly with great 

 swiftness, alight on trees, fences, or on the ground, indiscriminately ; are 

 exceedingly fond of buck-wheat, hemp-seed, and Indian corn ; feed on 

 several kinds of berries and small acorns. They devour large quantities of 

 gravel, and have a great regard for peas. 



The nest is very rudely constructed, generally in an evergreen, among the 

 thick foliage of a vine, in an orchard on an apple tree, and sometimes on the 



' Columba Curolincn^is, Lin. 



