GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 149 



slate-blue and the under side reddish grey ; the sides of the throat gleam ^vith violet ; the belly and 

 vent are white, the wings black, edged with white ; the centre tail-feathers are black, those at the side 

 light grey, marked with greyish brown and black spots at the base of the inner web. The eye is of a 

 brilliant red, the beak black, and the foot crimson. The female is smaller than her mate, with duUer 

 plumage, in which greyish brown predominates j her back and rump are whitish grey, and the centre 

 tail-feathers reddish brown. The length of the male is sixteen inches and a quarter, and his breadth 

 twenty-five inches ; the wing measures seven inches and tivo-thirds, and the tail eight inches and 

 one-sixth. In the female, the length is only fifteen and the breadth twenty-three inches. The 

 Carolina Pigeons inhabit the United States during the summer season, from Canada to Florida, and 

 from the sea-coast to the west of the Mississippi. In the Northern and Middle States they are 

 partially migratory. In North and South Carolina they assemble in flocks during the winter, some- 

 times of many hundred individuals, but in the spring they return northward, and most firequently fly 

 in pairs, more than three or four being rarely seen together. Their flight is rapid, and generally 

 accompanied by a whistling sound. They frequently circle about, but seldom mount above the trees, 

 visiting the fields for the grain they may be able to glean, and Hve principally on seeds, acorns, and 

 berries ; they are also fond of hempseed and Indian corn. In the winter, when food is scarce, they 

 visit the farmyards, and feed in company with other guests. 



The nest is but slightly formed of a few twigs, and lined with dry root-fibres. The eggs, two 

 in number, are snow-white. The young are fed by both parents. More than two broods are seldom 

 produced in the year, sometimes there is only one, but this appears to depend upon the time of lapng, 

 which in some parts of the United States begins as early as March, in others not until the middle of 

 May, and on the borders of Lake Superior stOl later in the yeai'. The usual roosting-places of these 

 birds are among long grass in deserted fields, or dried stalks of corn, amid the stubble, or among the 

 withered foliage of trees. They will return to favourite roosting-grounds from a considerable distance ; 

 but though a whole flock often settles in one locality, they seldom roost very near to each other, and 

 if any one approach, even in the darkest night, will at once rise and take flight. The note of the 

 Carolina Turtle Dove is low, plaintive, and repeated at intervals ; in the early spring it may be heard 

 among the newly-budding trees of the forest, even at a considerable distance. 



" The Passenger Pigeon," ^vrites Audubon, " or, as it is usually named in America, the Wild 

 Pigeon, moves with extreme rapidity, propelling itself by quickly repeated flaps of the wings, which it 

 brings more or less near the body, according to the degree of velocity which is required. Like the 

 Domestic Pigeon, it often flies during the love season in a circling manner, supporting itself with both 

 wings angularly elevated, in which position it keeps them until it is about to alight. Now and then, 

 during these circular flights, the tips of the primary quills of each wing are made to strike against each 

 other, producing a smart rap, which may be heard at a distance of thirty or forty yards. Before 

 alighting, the Wild Pigeon, like the Carolina Parrot and a few other species of birds, breaks the force 

 of its flight by repeated flappings, as if apprehensive of receiving injury from coming too suddenly in 

 contact with the branch or spot of ground on which it intends to settle. I have commenced my 

 description of this species with the above account of its flight because the most important facts 

 connected with its habits relate to its migrations. These are entirely owing to the necessit)^ of 

 procuring food, and are not performed with a view of escaping the severity of a northern latitude, or 

 of seeking a southern one for the purpose of breeding. They, consequently, do not take place at any 

 fixed period or season of the year ; indeed, it sometimes happens that a continuance of a sufficient 

 supply of food in one district will keep these birds absent from another for years. I know that in 

 Kentucky they remained for several years constantly, and were nowhere else to be found. They all 

 suddenly disappeared, when the mast was exhausted., and did not return for a long period. 



