166 COLUMBID^ TUETUE 



Ayres, the only observer who has recorded anything, states that the 

 stomach of one examined by him contained the frothy larvae of a 

 Cicada, and that in the season it also feeds on mulberries growing 

 in the gardens along the Berea, in the neighbourhood of Durban. 



Mr. Millar informs me that it is generally seen in pairs, though 

 sometimes in small flights, and that it is very fond of what is known 

 locally as the " white-eye " berry, but that he had failed to discover 

 anything in regard to its nesting habits. 



Genus III. TURTUR. 



Type. 

 Turtur, Selby, Nat. Libr. Pigeons, p. 169 (1835) T. risorius. 



Bill somewhat slender and delicate, the horny apex of the 

 mandible a good deal shorter than the soft basal portion ; wing long 

 and pointed, the second or third quill the longest ; tail long, more 



Fig. 52. — Left foot of Turtur capicola. x 



than two-thirds the length of the wing, rounded or somewhat 

 graduated ; tail-feathers twelve in number ; tarsus naked, equal to or 

 longer than the middle toe without the claw, sole of the toes narrow, 

 adapted for walking ; no metallic spots or patches in the plumage, 

 neck with a dark collar or scale-like patches on either side ; sexes 

 alike. 



The true Doves form a large genus spread over the greater part 

 of the Old World, except Australia ; out of some thirteen African 

 species four are found within our limits. 



