38 THE CAROLINA TURTLE-DOVE. 



which it prefers resorting to those fields from which the grain has been cut 

 and removed. It is a hardy bird, and stands the severest winters of our 

 Middle States, where some remain the whole year. 



The flesh of these birds is remarkably fine, when they are obtained young 

 and in the proper season. Such birds become extremely fat, are tender and 

 juicy, and in flavour equal in the estimation of some of my friends, as well 

 as in my own, to that of the Snipe or even the Woodcock; but as taste in 

 such matters depends much on circumstances, and perhaps on the whim of 

 individuals, I would advise you, reader, to try for yourself. These birds 

 require good shooting to bring them down, when on wing, for they fly with 

 great swiftness, and not always in a direct manner. It is seldom that more 

 than one can be killed at a shot when they are flying, and rarely more than 

 two or three when on the ground, on account of their natural propensity to 

 keep apart. 



In winter, they approach the farm-houses, feed among the Poultry, 

 Sparrows, Grakles, and many other birds, and appear very gentle; but no 

 sooner are they frequently disturbed or shot at, than they become extremely 

 shy. When raised from the nest, they are easily tamed. I have even 

 known some instances of their breeding in confinement. When caught in 

 traps and cooped, they feed freely, and soon become fat, when they are 

 excellent for the table. 



When shot, or taken alive in the hand, this and our other species of 

 Pigeon, lose the feathers on the slightest touch, a circumstance peculiar to 

 the genus, and to certain gallinaceous birds. 



This species does not extend very far eastward or northward. It is 

 exceedingly rare in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and none were seen 

 by my party in Newfoundland or Labrador. Dr. Richardson makes no 

 mention of it as having been observed in the Fur Countries. Yet it was met 

 with on the shores of the Columbia river by Mr. Townsend, who informs 

 me, that although Ectopistes migratoria is found on the Rocky Mountains, 

 E. carolinensis and Columba fasciata are the only species which he 

 observed on the Columbia. On the other hand, I found the present species 

 abundant in the Texas, where it was breeding on the gTOund, as well as on 

 low bushes, and feeding on blackberries late in the month of April. 



The Carolina Dove breeds in aviaries, even although caught when old, 

 raising several broods in the season, insomuch that my friends Dr. Bachman 

 and Dr. Samuel Wilson of Charleston, have had to kill the young for the 

 table. The former intimates to me that a male was put into a cage with a 

 female European Turtle-Dove, on which they paired, formed a nest, and 

 laid eggs, but the cage having accidentally fallen, the eggs, which now 

 contained young, were broken, and the Carolina Dove escaped. The same 



