on the Half- Collared Turtle Dove. 319


They do not penetrate the inner parts of the forest. The usual

call is now and then broken by a soft ' turr-ruck ' when in a

more passionate humour, especially on alighting, or when one

jostles an already alighted companion. The humorous trans-

lation of the Wass Waleli of the principal call runs when

complete, " Kuku mtupa tupu mimi mama tupu," that is "The

hen has nothing but bones, I only flesh." Pairing takes place

in the middle of May. The male dove shows himself very

attentive to the female. Cooing and puffing out his crop he

bows down before her, while the female responding (schuarreud)

loudly and followed by her admirer hops coyly from branch to

branch, at times also leaving the tree, but returning after a short

flight, to be received with redoubled cooing and bowing. After

the nesting season the birds often assemble in large flocks,

which wander about together. Their food consists of grass-

seeds and berries. The call consists of two long and four short

notes."


Mr. W. L. Sclater writing in " The Birds of S. Africa,"

Vol. IV. says: " The Red-eyed Dove is not very common in S.

Africa, except in more thickly-wooded districts from Swellen-

dam eastwards ; it is found along the South coast of the Colony

and extends to Natal, Mashoualand and the Zambesi, but does

not appear to have been yet noticed in the Transvaal. Beyond

our limits it is spread over the greater part of Africa as far as

Abyssinia and Senegal." He also quotes from Messrs. R. B. and

J. D. S. Woodwards' " Natal Birds," p. 131 : "This dove is very

common throughout the country, and its loud pleasant cooing is

heard wherever there is any cover for them, during the warmer

months of the year. They are sometimes seen in large flocks,

but as a rule they go about in pairs, and feed principally on tree

berries. The natives have no love for these birds as they devour

a considerable quantity of grain during the planting season ; but

there would not be much loss if care were taken to plant the

seeds deeper. They get very fat during the summer, and are

excellent eating. This dove laj'S its eggs on a few sticks, which

are merely an apology for a nest, generally in a low tree."


From the above it is evident that the Half-collared Dove_

is not an inhabitant of dense forest land, but is found on the



