O07S8. 



deservirg the respect of mankind than the veriest nmt or 

 " skinnem " that ever fluttered on a dormer or flavoured a pie. 

 As to its being the type of matrimonial perfection, we have 

 only to reooUect for half a pioment, an.d we recall to mind one 

 of "the most savage animalB that ever wore fangs or talons — 

 the butcher bird ; and again, the ravening eagle ; and, once again, 

 the ominous, croaJdng raven ; each of which, as regards constancy 

 and conjugal affection, will bear eomparison with the gentlest 

 turtle that ever coo'd. However, as before stated, the present 

 generation are not responsible for the turtle dove's fame ; we find 

 the bird in question pretty and well-behaved, and these surely 

 are credentials sufficient to ensure, at least, a kindly toleration 

 in this rough-and-tumble world to their possessor. 



It is the smallest of our native doves, and is found throughout 

 temperate Europe and Asia. They arrive in this countay about 

 the beginning of May.breed here, and leave again ear^yin autumn. 

 They measure about ten or eleven inches in lengfji, and about 

 eighteen in^bes in breadth from tip to tip of ihg expanded 

 wings; the heak is long and thin, measuring about three 

 quarters of ^ix^ inch, and dark horn-coloured ; the coverings of 

 the nostrils reddish-white ; the irides of the eyes a bright 

 orange-red, and the edges of the eyehds form .a reddish thread- 

 like circle round the eyes ; the feet and toes are a deep red, 

 and the nails dull black. The general colour of the plumage 

 is a rufous-brown, having an ashen-grey tinge in the male, 

 and varying in depth of colour in different parts of the body ; 

 on each side of the neck is a square black spot, some of the 

 feathers forming it have white tips, which give it a pretty 

 chequered appearance ; the covert feathers of the wings, too, 

 are black, bordered with rufous-brown, which also add to their 

 beauty ; the pinion feathers are dark ; the tail long in propor- 

 tion to the bird, the two centre feathers of a rufous-brown colour, 

 the others of a slaty-black, tipped with white, the outer feathers 

 having a white margin ; those large white spots form a half- 

 circle on the spread tail as the bird flies ; the belly and under 

 tail coverts are white. The young ones do not have the spots 

 on <he neck till the first moult, and are more of a uniform 

 brown colour. The slender neck, round, plump form of body, 

 and large tail, give the turtle dove a very elegant appearance. 



The food of the turtle dove consists chiefly of seeds, such as 

 com, peas, and rape. In its wild state, it is an exceedingly 

 nhy bird, confining itself to the depths of the forest, where it 

 builds a nest on the forked branch of a tree, UBuaJly about ten 



