THE DOVE. 155 



instead of fawn in colour. Indeed, as the tame- 

 bird appears to be sometimes coloured just like the 

 wild one, one might put it down as the descendant 

 of the latter, were it not that the coo of the two birds- 

 is difierent. It may be urged in this connection 

 that there is a difference in the song of the white 

 tame and the grey wild Java sparrows ; but in these 

 ring-necked Turtle-doves the notes of the various- 

 wild species are so distinct that the coo becomes a 

 character of importance. The wild Ring-dove never 

 seems to utter the pequliar sniggering laugh of the 

 tame one, which is quite unlike any note made by 

 any other Turtle-dove I know, and I have studied- 

 several in life. Whether or not it gave origin to the 

 world-familiar domestic pet, the Ring-dove of India 

 has a wide range on its own account, and may soothe 

 with its cooing the ears of many men of many races- 

 from the unspeakable Turk in Europe to the heathen- 

 Chinese in the uttermost Bast. 



