70 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



be readily seen from beneath. Numerous pairs usually 

 associate together, building their nests in the same 

 situation, and flying abroad in a body in quest of food. 

 They are generally observed to be extremely busy in 

 the corn-fields after the reaping of the corn, and also 

 among the peas, of which they are particularly fond. 

 The peculiarly plaintive modulation of their voice, which 

 however becomes disagreeable after a time from the 

 continued recurrence of one dull unvaried sound, is 

 familiar to the ears of all. They are easily tamed if 

 taken in the nest, and become moderately familiar in 

 captivity. 



The Turtle Dove is about eleven inches in length 

 from the point of the bill to the extremity of the tail, 

 which is rounded and slightly graduated. The upper 

 part of its head and neck is of an ashy gray ; its back 

 and tail-coverts brown ; the upper wing-coverts of a 

 dusky brown in the middle, with a broad reddish 

 border ; the smaller wing-coverts gray ; and the quill- 

 feathers dusky brown, with a narrow border of grayish 

 white. The sides of the neck are marked by a patch 

 of small black feathers with white points ; the throat 

 and breast are of a beautiful bright chocolate brown, 

 rather paler towards the lower part and sides ; and the 

 remainder of the under surface of the body, as well as 

 the legs, pure white. The quill-feathers of the tail are 

 grayish brown above and dusky black beneath, all 

 except the two intermediate ones ending in a white 

 spot; the two lateral ones have also a band of white 

 occupying their outer edge. The naked skin round the 

 eye is of a light red ; the iris pale orange ; the bill 

 brown with a tinge of blue ; the legs and feet red ; and 

 the claws black. The plumage of the female is less 

 lively in its colours ; and that of the young birds, which 

 want the black patches on the sides of the neck, is even 

 still more dull. 



