COIAIMBA GELASTIS. 
201 
Dove has spread along the shores of the Pacific Ocean 
to Dauria, and in larger numbers eastward to the 
Stanowvi Mountains and to the coasts of the Ochotsk 
Sea, (according to MiddendorlF,) to the neighbouring 
country of the Amoor, and (according to Temminck) 
to Japan, where it assumes its largest form, and has 
the same variety of colours which have been described 
in C. gelastis. “In the Amoor I found C. gelastis very 
common, as well at the mouths of the rivers as also 
further outwards, and on the Ussuri. It is also found, 
according to the testimony of the natives, on the 
Island of Sachalin. On the Amoor it remains in the 
hazel woods, as Avell as among evergreens and willow 
bushes on the islands, and, as far as I have been 
able to observe, in the neighbourhood of Avater. I 
have often seen them a short distance from the river, 
on the level sand and pebbles, between light willoAV 
branches, sitting in pairs, or in small companies of 
four to six. At first I thought they repaired to 
such places only to drink or pick up small stones 
and coarse grains of sand, but the specimens which I 
shot sheAV me that they find their food there as Avell. 
I found the crop filled Avith Phnjgane, AA^ich is found 
abundantly, and of various kinds on the Amoor. I 
am not aAvare that this has oAxr been observed as 
the food of our Turtle Doves in Europe. 
“Quite early in the spring this Turtle Dove appears 
on the Amoor. At the Nikolajev Posten I found 
them in the spring of 1855, the end of April; and 
it also appeared at the mouth of the rUer about 
the 8th. (20th.) of May, Avhen the bushes Avere 
covered Avith ice, and there Avas still much snoAV in 
the forest. 
“The moulting begins among the old birds in the 
2 £ 
A"OL. III. 
