14 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



India, where the geographical area of each impinges. T.ferrago 

 is not known, however, to cross with the Turtle Dove in Turkestan, 

 where the range of the two species meets. 



Time during which the Turtle Dove may be taken.— 



August I St to March ist ; otherwise by authority of owner or 

 occupier of land. 



Habits.— The Turtle Dove is a summer migrant. Its usual 

 date of appearance is the first week in May, a period which 

 marks its entry into Europe at Gibraltar in greatest abundance ; 

 but individuals are occasionally seen during the latter part of 

 April. Its return journey is taken in September, although odd 

 birds are met with from time to time at much later dates. The 

 haunts of this species are in woods and plantations, and parks 

 and fields which are well timbered, or in the vicinity of trees. 

 It is a shy and retiring bird, far more often heard than seen ; 

 although when I was in Algeria, on the borders of the Great 

 Desert, in the oasis of Biskra, I found it a most tame and 

 confiding species. Here they frequented the tops of the 

 date palms, hiding amongst the foliage, where they roosted at 

 night. I also observed that they were very regular in visiting 

 the Oued to drink, going in the early morning to quench 

 their thirst and to bathe. Whilst perched in a tree the Turtle 

 Dove will often allow a near approach, but it keeps so quiet that 

 it is almost impossible to detect its whereabouts until it dashes 

 out with almost a whirr, and in erratic flight dodges between the 

 branches and trunks, and soon conceals itself again amongst the 

 foliage. As may readily be inferred, a bird of such extended 

 migrations is a good flyer, and passes rapidly through the air. It 

 is often seen on the ground in the open fields where it goes to feed, 

 and here it runs to and fro with Pigeon-like gait, yet always alert 

 and ready to dash off to the trees the moment danger threatens. 

 The bird's arrival in our English woods is soon persistently 

 proclaimed by its note. This is a gentle, soft, and rich coo-r-r- 

 coo-r-r-r, each coo more or less gutturally prolonged, as if the bird 

 laboured under no small effort to produce it. The male bird, as 

 usual, calls the most, and is particularly noisy during the season 

 of courtship. This note is maintained all through the summer, but 

 it begins to wane in August and by the time of the bird's departure 



