584 AVES—PIGEON. 
THE CAROLINA PIGEON? 

CALLED also the turtle-dove, is a general inhabitant, in the summer, of the 
United States, from Canada to Florida, and from the seacoast te 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 who 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 who 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 ofa vine, in an orchard on an apple tree, and sometimes on the 

1 Columba Carolinensis, Lin. 
