COLUMBA. STKEPTOPELIA. 309 



found associating with semi-domestic pigeons. It is repre- 

 sented by closely sillied races in west and north-east Africa 

 and in parts of Asia. 



Genus STREPTOPELIA Bonaparte, Consp. Av. ii. 1854, 



p. 63. 



Type : S. risorius (Linn.). 



Streptopelia = lit. " Twisted Pigeon," from arpejrTos = twisted, and 

 ircXeiu = a pigeon (referring to the feathers). 



Streptopelia turtur. Turtle-Dove. 



Columba turtur Linnceus, Syst. Kat. 1758, p. 164: 



England. 



Turtur communis Selhy ; B. O. U. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 139 ; 



Saunders, Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 485. 

 Turtur turtur {Linn.) ; Salvadori, Cat. Birds B. M. xxi. 1893, 



p. 396. 



Turtur = a Turtle-Dove, in classical Latin. 



Distribution in the British Islands. — A Summer Visitor, 

 breeding in most parts of England and Wales as I'ar north 

 as Cumberland, Durham, and possibly Northumberland, 

 but it becomes scarce in the northern counties, and also in 

 western Wales and Cornwiill. To Scotland, including the 

 northern and western Islands, it is an irregular summer and 

 autumn visitor, but apparently does not breed, while at Fair 

 Isle it occurs annually in spring and autumn on migration. 

 To Ireland it is likewise a rare visitor, chiefly found in the 

 southern counties, but it is said to have nested there on more 

 than one occasion. 



General Distribution. — The Turtle-Dove breeds in Europe, 

 western Asia, and north Africa, ranging from Scandinavia 

 eastwards to Turkestan and southwards to the Mediterranean 

 coiintries ; also to Madeira and the Canary Islands. In 

 winter it is found in north and north-east Africa. Birds 

 from north-east Africa and Persia have been recognised as 

 distinct races. * 



