THE TURTLE DOVE. 15 



When at Epsom races on the Derby day, in 1846, I saw a number of carrier 

 pigeons put up immediately after tbe race was over, and saw it announced the next 

 day in the newspapers that one of them had flown to Windsor, thirty miles distant, 

 in thirty minutes after being given its liberty. Others were noticed in the papers, 

 but none of them accomplished the journey in so short a time. 



It may be mentioned, on account of the period of time that elapsed on the occa- 

 sion, that a tame pigeon taken from Belfast to the Falls, two miles distant, and 

 shut up in a room for twelve months, flew back to its old quarters immediately after 

 being liberated. 



The more than ordinary attachment of one of these birds which I happened to 

 witness, induced the following note : — Belfast, Tel. 12, 1846. — I was much inter- 

 ested to-day by seeing a fine tame pigeon accompanying two boys walking home 

 from school — and at a good round pace — for upwards of half a mile, along the road 

 at Parkmount. It kept close at their sides, and endeavoured to walk with them, 

 alighting to make the attempt every twenty or thirty yards during the whole way, 

 but as they did not slacken their speed, it could not long cope with them on foot. 

 On being called by its name, it seemed as much delighted as a favourite dog. 



An interesting note on the attachment shown by a tame pigeon to her mate, 

 which had been shot and gibbeted in a pea-field, is related by Mr. Jesse, in his 

 ' Gleanings of Natural History,' p. 112, 1st series. 



THE TURTLE DOVE. 



Columba turtur, Linn. 



Is an occasional — almost an annual — visitant to cultivated 

 districts in some parts of the island. 



It has been obtained in the counties ranging farthest to the 

 south-west and north-west ; and has visited the island for four 

 or five years successively, appearing occasionally at all seasons, 

 but chiefly at the more genial : — it has bred, though very 

 rarely. 



I shall notice its occurrence, according to the years, so far as 

 known. Mr. Templeton recorded the turtle dove as observed at 

 Cranmore and Shanescastle, without mentioning the period. At 

 Eisherwick Lodge, in the same county (Antrim), this bird was 

 seen about the year 1820. 



