TURTURIN.E. 475 



pigeon of North America, Ectopistes migratoria, is placed in this 

 group by Bonaparte, with which it agrees in its arboreal habits and 

 lengthened tail. Blyth considers it a long-tailed Cushat. It has 

 been occasionally killed in Britain. 



Sub-fain. Turtukin^ Bonap. 

 Feet fitted for walking on the ground ; tail somewhat length- 

 ened (typically), rounded or graduated, and with pale tips to the 

 outer feathers ; of delicate make, with small heads ; neck usually 

 without the iridescent play of the Columbince, but frequently 

 adorned with neck-spots as in the Palumbince, or with rings. 



The Doves are a well marked group, albeit devoid of any strongly 

 marked technical distinctions, the chief of which appears to be 

 the form of the tail. They have, however, a marked physiognomy, 

 and form a very natural group. Their colours are usually pale, 

 as compared with Pigeons. They mostly feed on the ground on 

 grain, pulse, and other small seeds, and are not, in general, gre- 

 garious, though large numbers may be seen feeding together. 

 They chiefly frequent open and cultivated country, a few- 

 preferring highly wooded or forest districts ; and many are very 

 familiar birds, feeding close to houses and stables. They breed 

 on low trees, or shrubs, constructing the usual slight platform nest, 

 and they breed at all seasons of the year. They are confined 

 to the Old World. The Asiatic species, distributed in one genus, 

 are divided into two by Bonaparte. 



Gen. Turttjr, Selby. Pancluk H. in Behar, 

 Fachta H. in the south. 

 Char. — Bill slender, the tip very slightly arched ; the two first 

 quills graduated, 2nd and 3rd longest ; tail somewhat long, usually 

 rounded ; toes long and slender ; the claws slightly curved. 



The Turtle-doves are divided by Bonaparte into the sections, 

 Auriti, Maculicolles, and Tigrini, to which I will add a fourth, 

 Streplopelece, raised by Bonaparte to distinct generic rank. 



1st, Auriti. 



The British Turtle-dove is the type of this section, and the 

 species belonging to it are distinguished by a peculiar coloration, 

 more or less ruddy, with broad rufous edgings to the wing-feathers, 



