TURTLE DOVE. 57 



pigeon than to either the rock or stock clove, for it frequents 

 the haunts of the wood pigeon more generally than those of 

 either of the others, only differing from them in inhabiting 

 trees of smaller dimensions. At night it roosts on a strong 

 branch of a tree among the thickest foliage. 



The Turtle Dove is a very beautiful bird ; its feathers are 

 very smooth, and its movements exceedingly graceful ; but we 

 must differ in our description of its character from that which 

 is generally received. It is usually supposed, and reported to 

 be, loving, kind, and patient ; such qualities are indeed fre- 

 quently displayed towards their several mates, but towards 

 other birds, when caged together, the Turtle Dove shows 

 itself spiteful and quarrelsome in the extreme, pursuing and 

 persecuting them incessantly ; and so bold is it, that it will 

 molest and harass in this manner birds much its superiors in 

 size and strength, the wood pigeon more particularly. 



When the Turtle Dove is perched on a branch of a tree, 

 it sits with its body horizontally placed, as if walking on the 

 ground ; and when it is on the ground, it runs quickly 

 and lightly, nodding its head at every step. Its flight is 

 very quick and graceful. When the Turtle Dove first arrives, 

 in the spring of the year, it is not shy, and may be easily 

 shot ; but after the pairing season the bird becomes wary, 

 and towards autumn very shy and cautious, or, as has often 

 been said, it becomes careful. Although these birds are bad 

 neighbours to those of other species, they are considered 

 sociable with their own, for they feed together in the fields, 

 and during their autumnal migration they travel in com- 

 panies. The call of the Turtle Dove is sufficiently well 

 known, so as not to require any lengthened description ; it 

 sounds like the words turr, turr, more or less frequently 

 repeated, according to circumstances, for the more excited 

 the bird is, the oftener does he repeat his cry, and some- 

 times, as it were, in one breath. 



